2005 Texas Transportation Code CHAPTER 721. INSCRIPTION REQUIRED ON STATE, MUNICIPAL, AND COUNTY MOTOR VEHICLES

TRANSPORTATION CODE

SUBTITLE J. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

CHAPTER 721. INSCRIPTION REQUIRED ON STATE, MUNICIPAL, AND COUNTY 
MOTOR VEHICLES


	§ 721.001. DEFINITION.  In this chapter, "state agency" 
means a department, bureau, board, commission, or office of state 
government.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.                    


	§ 721.002. INSCRIPTION REQUIRED ON STATE-OWNED MOTOR 
VEHICLES.  (a) The official having control of a state-owned motor 
vehicle shall have printed on each side of the vehicle the word 
"Texas," followed by the title of the state agency having custody of 
the vehicle.
	(b)  The inscription must be in a color sufficiently 
different from the body of the motor vehicle so that the lettering 
is plainly legible at a distance of not less than 100 feet.
	(c)  The title of the state agency must be in letters not less 
than two inches high.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.                    


	§ 721.003. EXEMPTION FROM INSCRIPTION REQUIREMENT FOR 
CERTAIN STATE-OWNED MOTOR VEHICLES.  (a) The governing bodies of 
the following state agencies or divisions by rule may exempt from 
the requirements of Section 721.002 a motor vehicle that is under 
the control and custody of the agency or division:
		(1)  Texas Commission on Fire Protection;                                     
		(2)  Texas State Board of Pharmacy;                                           
		(3)  Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental 
Retardation;              
		(4)  Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas;                       
		(5)  the institutional division or the pardons and 
paroles division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice;
		(6)  Board of Pardons and Paroles;                                            
		(7)  Parks and Wildlife Department;                                           
		(8)  Railroad Commission of Texas;                                            
		(9)  Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission;                                     
		(10)  Texas Department of Banking;                                            
		(11)  Savings and Loan Department;                                            
		(12)  Texas Juvenile Probation Commission;                                    
		(13)  Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission;                         
		(14)  Texas Youth Commission;                                                 
		(15)  Texas Lottery Commission;                                               
		(16)  the office of the attorney general;                                     
		(17)  Texas Department of Insurance;  and                                     
		(18)  an agency that receives an appropriation under an 
article of the General Appropriations Act that appropriates money 
to the legislature.
	(b)  Repealed by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 81, § 2, eff. 
Sept. 1, 2001.   
	(c)  A rule adopted under this section must specify:                           
		(1)  the purpose served by not printing on the motor 
vehicle the inscription required by Section 721.002;  and
		(2)  the primary use of the motor vehicle.                                    
	(d)  A rule adopted under this section is not effective until 
the rule is filed with the secretary of state.
	(e)  A rule adopted by the Texas Lottery Commission under 
Subsection (a) may exempt from the requirements of Section 721.002 
only a motor vehicle used exclusively for surveillance purposes.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.  Amended 
by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 81, § 1, 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.


	§ 721.004. INSCRIPTION REQUIRED ON MUNICIPAL AND 
COUNTY-OWNED MOTOR VEHICLES AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT.  (a) The office 
having control of a motor vehicle or piece of heavy equipment owned 
by a municipality or county shall have printed on each side of the 
vehicle or equipment the name of the municipality or county, 
followed by the title of the department or office having custody of 
the vehicle or equipment.
	(b)  The inscription must be in a color sufficiently 
different from the body of the vehicle or equipment so that the 
lettering is plainly legible.
	(c)  The title of the department or office must be in letters 
plainly legible at a distance of not less than 100 feet.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.                    


	§ 721.005. EXEMPTION FROM INSCRIPTION REQUIREMENT FOR 
CERTAIN MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY-OWNED MOTOR VEHICLES.  

Subsection (a) as amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 66, § 1
	(a)  The governing body of a municipality may exempt from the 
requirements of Section 721.004 an automobile when used to perform 
an official duty by a:
		(1)  police department;                                                       
		(2)  magistrate as defined by Article 2.09, Code of 
Criminal Procedure;     
		(3)  medical examiner;  or                                                    
		(4)  municipal code enforcement officer designated to 
enforce environmental criminal laws.

Subsection (a) as amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 140, § 1
	(a)  The governing body of a municipality may exempt from the 
requirements of Section 721.004:
		(1)  an automobile when used to perform an official 
duty by a:              
			(A)  police department;                                                      
			(B)  magistrate as defined by Article 2.09, Code 
of Criminal Procedure;  or
			(C)  medical examiner;  or                                                   
		(2)  an automobile used by a municipal employee only 
when conducting an investigation involving suspected fraud or other 
mismanagement within the municipality.
	(b)  The commissioners court of a county may exempt from the 
requirements of Section 721.004:
		(1)  an automobile when used to perform an official 
duty by a:              
			(A)  police department;                                                      
			(B)  sheriff's office;                                                       
			(C)  constable's office;                                                     
			(D)  criminal district attorney's office;                                    
			(E)  district attorney's office;                                             
			(F)  county attorney's office;                                               
			(G)  magistrate as defined by Article 2.09, Code 
of Criminal Procedure;    
			(H)  county fire marshal's office;  or                                       
			(I)  medical examiner;  or                                                   
		(2)  a juvenile probation department vehicle used to 
transport children, when used to perform an official duty.
	(c)  An exemption provided under this section does not apply 
to a contract deputy.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.  Amended 
by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 355, § 1, eff. May 27, 1997;  Acts 
1997, 75th Leg., ch. 46, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997;  Acts 1999, 76th 
Leg., ch. 62, § 17.38, eff. Sept. 1, 1999;  Acts 2001, 77th Leg., 
ch. 66, § 1, eff. May 14, 2001;  Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 140, 
§ 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.


	§ 721.006. OPERATION OF VEHICLE IN VIOLATION OF CHAPTER;  
OFFENSE.  (a) A person commits an offense if the person:
		(1)  operates on a municipal street or on a highway a 
motor vehicle or piece of equipment that does not have the 
inscription required by this chapter;  or
		(2)  uses a motor vehicle that is exempt by rule under 
Section 721.003, and that use is not expressly specified by the 
rule.
	(b)  An offense under this section is a misdemeanor 
punishable by a fine of not less than $25 or more than $100.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.