TITLE: Relating to safety equipment requirements for certain cyclists; providing a penalty.

SUMMARY: Relating to safety equipment requirements for certain cyclists; providing a penalty.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to safety equipment requirements for certain cyclists; providing a penalty. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 551.104(b), Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows: (b) A person may not operate a bicycle at nighttime,during the 30-minute period before sunset, or during the 30-minute period after sunrise unless the person or bicycle is equipped with: (1) a lamp [on the front of the bicycle] that emits a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet in front of the bicycle; and (2) [on the rear of the bicycle: [(A) a red reflector that is: [(i) of a type approved by the department; and [(ii) visible when directly in front of lawful upper beams of motor vehicle headlamps from all distances from 50 to 300 feet to the rear of the bicycle; or [(B)] a lamp that emits a red light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear of the bicycle. SECTION 2. 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 on the date 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 occurred before that date. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.