81R1932 TRH-D
 
  By: Wentworth S.B. No. 582
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to prohibitions on the use of a wireless communication
  device while operating a motor vehicle.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 545.001, Transportation Code, is amended
  by adding Subdivision (3) to read as follows:
               (3)  "Wireless communication device" means a device
  that uses a commercial mobile service, as defined by 47 U.S.C.
  Section 332.
         SECTION 2.  Section 545.425, Transportation Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         Sec. 545.425.  USE OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE [BY
  CERTAIN MOTORISTS]. (a)  In this section, "hands-free device" 
  means speakerphone capability or a telephone attachment or other
  piece of equipment, regardless of whether permanently installed in
  the motor vehicle, that allows use of the wireless communication
  device without use of either of the operator's hands, except to
  activate or deactivate the hands-free device.
         (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), an operator may
  not use a wireless communication device while operating a motor
  vehicle unless:
               (1)  the vehicle is stopped; or
               (2)  the wireless communication device is used with a
  hands-free device.
         (c)  An operator [A person] may not use a wireless
  communication device while operating a passenger bus with a minor
  passenger on the bus unless [except in case of emergency or if] the
  passenger bus is stopped [not in motion].
         (d)  It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this
  section that the wireless communication device was used to make an
  emergency call to:
               (1)  a 9-1-1 emergency service;
               (2)  a hospital;
               (3)  an emergency ambulance service;
               (4)  a fire department;
               (5)  a health clinic;
               (6)  a medical doctor's office;
               (7)  an individual to administer first aid treatment;
  or
               (8)  a law enforcement agency.
         (e)  It is an exception to the application of Subsections (b)
  and (c) that the operator is:
               (1)  an operator of an authorized emergency vehicle
  using a wireless communication device while acting in an official
  capacity; or
               (2)  a person licensed by the Federal Communications
  Commission to operate a wireless communication device or a radio
  communication device.
         SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.
  An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is
  governed by the law in effect when the offense was committed, and
  the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For
  purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the
  effective date of this Act if any element of the offense was
  committed before that date.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2010.