HBA-CMT H.B. 3340 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3340
By: Flores
Transportation
3/21/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, the offense for parking illegally in a space or area
designated for a disabled person is a misdemeanor punishable by a minimum
fine of $250  rising to a maximum fine of $1,000 for repeat offenses.
Current law also stipulates that if a person commits the offense three
times or more, those offenders are punishable with a certain amount of
community service.  House Bill 3340 increases the penalties for the offense
of parking illegally in a space or area designated for disabled persons. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 3340 amends the Transportation Code to remove the minimum fine
of $250 for the first offense of parking in a space designated for disabled
persons, and to set the fine at $500.  The bill increases the fine for a
person convicted of parking in a space designated for disabled persons: 

_from a minimum of $300 and a maximum of $600 to a minimum of $500 and a
maximum of $750 for a second offense; 

_from a minimum of $300 and maximum of $600 to a minimum of $750 and
maximum of $1,000 for a third offense;  

_from a minimum of $500 and maximum of $1,000 to a minimum of $1,000 and a
maximum of $1,250 for a fourth offense; and  

_from $1,000 to a minimum of $1,250 and a maximum of $1,500 for any offense
beyond the fourth. 
 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.