As of September 1 its now illegal in Texas to carry a child under the age of 5 on a motorcycle, UNLESS: The child is in a sidecar, OR its an emergency.
The first offense ticket is $100.
Big brother is watching!
BTW...how is a cop supposed to know if a child is only 4 years and 10 months old unless you tell him??? ( hint hint )
And what defines an 'emergency'? I mean, maybe the little 3 year old is throwing a fit to go for a ride!!!
Here is the text of the new law, HB 537. This applies in Texas, whether you live here or are just PASSING THRU.
SECTION 3. Section 545.416, Transportation Code, is amended
by adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows:
(d) Except as provided by Subsection (e), an operator may
not carry another person on a motorcycle unless the other person is
at least five years of age. An offense under this subsection is a
misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $100 or more than
$200. It is a defense to prosecution under this subsection that the
operator was operating the motorcycle in an emergency or for a law
enforcement purpose.
(e) Subsection (d) does not prohibit an operator from
carrying on a motorcycle a person younger than five years of age who
is seated in a sidecar attached to the motorcycle.
SECTION 4. 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
covered by the law in effect immediately before the effective date
of this Act, 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 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
Oh well...I dont have kiddos anyway....
The first offense ticket is $100.
Big brother is watching!
BTW...how is a cop supposed to know if a child is only 4 years and 10 months old unless you tell him??? ( hint hint )
And what defines an 'emergency'? I mean, maybe the little 3 year old is throwing a fit to go for a ride!!!
Here is the text of the new law, HB 537. This applies in Texas, whether you live here or are just PASSING THRU.
SECTION 3. Section 545.416, Transportation Code, is amended
by adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows:
(d) Except as provided by Subsection (e), an operator may
not carry another person on a motorcycle unless the other person is
at least five years of age. An offense under this subsection is a
misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $100 or more than
$200. It is a defense to prosecution under this subsection that the
operator was operating the motorcycle in an emergency or for a law
enforcement purpose.
(e) Subsection (d) does not prohibit an operator from
carrying on a motorcycle a person younger than five years of age who
is seated in a sidecar attached to the motorcycle.
SECTION 4. 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
covered by the law in effect immediately before the effective date
of this Act, 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 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
Oh well...I dont have kiddos anyway....