September 19, 1990 

Honorable Benjamin Euresti, Jr. Opinion No. JM-1226 

County Attorney 

Cameron County Courthouse Re: 

974 E. Harrison Street 

Whether Mexican operators of motor vehicles 

Brownsville, Texas 78520 used for commercial purposes must obtain Texas 

driver's licenses 

(RQ-1975) 

Dear Mr. Euresti: 

Your request concerns the state licensing requirements 

that must be satisfied prior to driving commercial motor 

vehicles in Texas. Two state 

the issuance and 

statutes currently regulate 

continuance of driver's licenses whose 

possession authorizes the holders to drive various motor 

vehicles in Texas. Those statutes are articles 6687b and 

6687b-2, V.T.C.S. Since your request focuses on article 

668733, we first address your questions under that statute. 

Section 2(a) of article 668733 provides that unless 

expressly exempted by the act, no person may drive a motor 

vehicle on a highway in Texas without a driver's license 

issued in accordance with the act. You ask whether section 

3(e) of article 6687b exempts Mexican commercial truck 

operators driving Mexican commercial vehicles in Texas from 

the license requirements of the act.1 You also ask whether 

1. We assume for purposes of this opinion that the 

Mexican commercial drivers are not Texas residents, but are 

instead Mexican residents who are entitled to the benefit of 

Mexican laws and treaties. See Attorney General Opinion 

JM-611 (1986) (concluding article 

holding 

668733 exempts persons 

valid driver's licenses from other states or 

countries only if such persons are not Texas residents): 

see also 37 T.A.C. S 15.1(2)(defining uresident@' for 

driver's licenses purposes as a person domiciled in Texas), 

15.1(3) (classifying all others as "nonresidents"). 

P. 6507 
Honorable Benjamin Euresti, Jr. - Page 2 (JM-1226) 

an exemption under section 3(e) is dependent on a reciprocal 

exemption by Mexico of commercial drivers licensed by Texas. 

Section 3(e) of the act exempts from the act's license 

requirements: 

Any nonresident who is at least eighteen 

(18) years of age and who has in his immediate possession a valid Class A or Class B 

driver's license or similar license issued to 

him by his home state shall not be required 

to secure such license under this Act, p~pz 

vided the state or country of his residence 

likewise recognizes such licenses issued by 

the State of Texas and exempts the holders 

thereof from securing such licenses from such 

foreign state or country. The purnose of 

this section is to extend full reciorocitv 

to citizens of other states and foreign 

countries which extend like privileges to 

citizens of the State of Texas. (Emphasis 

added.) 

Possession of either a valid Class A or B license or a valid 

Class C license, the other motor vehicle license issued 

under the act, authorizes the use of motor vehicles based on 

their weight ratings or passenger capacity and thus covers 

vehicles used for both commercial and noncommercial reasons. 

V.T.C.~;,;;t.,6687b, 5 4A(b)T(d): Be also i9, 5 1; V.T.C.S. 

. 

define "mot& 

f 2(a)-(b) (cited provisions read together 

vehicle" for purposes of article 66871, to 

cover in general vehicles used for the transportation of 

persons or property by highway). Article 668731-2 also uses 

a vehicle classification system that is based in part on 

weight ratings or passenger capacity. Since you did not 

present and we are not otherwise in possession of particular 

facts describing the weight ratings, passenger capacity, or 

other characteristics of the motor vehicles in issue, we 

cannot determine whether the licensing provisions of article 

6687b or 668713-2 apply to them. Thus, we first assume that 

the vehicles are within the scope of the licensing 

provisions of article 668733, and later for purposes of our 

discussion of article 6687b-2, we assume that the vehicles 

p. 6508 
Honorable Benjamin Euresti, Jr. - Page 3 (JM-1226) 

are within the reach of the licensing provisions of article 

668733-2.2 

The predecessor of section 3(e), formerly codified as 

section 3(4), exempted prior to 1947 only residents of other 

states who held chauffeur's licenses. Acts 1941, 47th Leg., 

ch. 173, 5 3(4), at 247-48. In 1947 the legislature passed 

House Bill 293 and extended the exemption in section 3(4) to 

residents of other states who held operator's or commercial 

operator's licenses and to other nonresidents who possessed 

operator‘s, chauffeur's, or commercial operator's licenses 

or similar licenses from their home governments "provided 

the State or Country of . . , [their] residence likewise 

recognizes such licenses issued by the State of Texas and 

exempts the holders thereof from securing such licenses from 

such foreign State or Country." Acts 1947, 50th beg., ch. 

108, 5 1, at 171. The caption and the emergency clause show 

that the legislature intended to extend reciprocity to 

citizens of other states and foreign countries that extended 

a similar exemption to Texas residents. Ig, at 171-72. 

Soon after the passage of House Bill 293, this office 

P issued Attorney General Opinion V-980 (1949), which held 

that this state could automatically suspend the driving privileges of a nonresident holding an out-of-state license who 

was convicted of an offense under article 668733 and take 

custody of the nonresident's out-of-state license. It 

stated that section 3(4) had extended Texas driving privileges to nonresidents only if they had in their immediate 

possession an appropriate out-of-state license and if 

reciprocity was "present between that State and this State 

as to recognition of each State's licenses." Attorney 

General Opinion V-980 at 3. 

The 1983 amendments to article 6687b reclassified 

section 3(4) to section 3(e) and modified the language of 

the 1947 amendment to reflect the change to alphabetical 

licenses covering vehicles based on their weight ratings or 

2. Our subsequent discussion of article 668733-2 will 

show that the enactment of that article removed from the 

scope of the licensing provisions of article 6687b a 

significant number of vehicles used for commercial purposes. 

That discussion will also show that the licensing reguirements of article 6687b continue to apply to some commercial 

vehicles. 

P 

p. 6509 
Honorable Benjamin Euresti, Jr. - Page 4 (JM-1226) 

passenger capacity. w Acts 1983, 68th Lag., ch. 345, g 2, 

at 1797. 

Neither the provisions of House Bill 293 nor the 

current language of section 3(e) makes a distinction for 

purposes of the exemption between drivers of commercial and 

noncommercial vehicles. Consequently, an exemption under 

section 3(e) is available to a nonresident with regard 

to any motor vehicle currently within the scope of the 

licensing provisions of article 668713, including one used 

for commercial purposes, but only if reciprocity is present 

between Texas and the nonresident's home government with 

regard to similar driver's licenses and the nonresident has 

a valid license issued to him by his home government. 

Furthermore, according to the current as well as past 

versions of the exemption, the nonresident must be 18 years 

of age or older. 

Even assuming the Mexican drivers in issue are 18 years 

or older and possess appropriate Mexican licenses, you have 

not mentioned any reciprocal arrangement between Mexico and 

the United States or Texas with regard to licenses 

authorizing the use of motor vehicles for commercial 

purposes or any Mexican legislation allowing licensed Texas 

commercial drivers to operate their vehicles on Mexican 

highways without obtaining local licenses. Mexico and the 

United States, however, are signatories to a 1943 treaty 

that covers the use of certain motor vehicles in each 

country. That treaty, the Convention on the Regulation 

of Inter-American Automotive Traffic (hereinafter the 

Convention) was opened for signature at the Pan American 

Union on December 15, 1943. c. Bevans, 3 eaties and 

ti t 

America 1776-1949 at 865e(1969) (contains reproduction of 

treaty) (hereinafter l*Bevans'l); M 61 Stat. 1129: 

T.I.A.S. NO. 1567 (also contains reproductions). 

The Convention facilitates the movement of motor 

vehicles among the American republics by agreeing to the 

acceptance of each individual republic's licensing of 

vehicle operators and registration of vehicles and providing 

for the recognition of international vehicle certificates 

and driver's licenses. Article II of the Convention defines 

a motor vehicle 'aa any self-propelled vehicle circulating 

upon a public highway without the need of rails and used for 

the transport of persons or merchandise." 3 Bevans at 866. 

The term Wmerchandise" is not defined by the Convention, 

although "highway" is defined "as any public way maintained 

for and open to the use of the public for purposes of 

vehicular travel." & The Convention does not expressly 

D. 6510 
P 

Honorable Benjamin Euresti, Jr. - Page 5 (JM-1226) 

refer to vehicles used for commercial purposes. See 

H. Kelly, m 

XVII Dep*t of State Bull. 1063, 1066-67 (1947) (ConventTo;l 

silent with regard to problem presented by trucks and buses; 

little expectation in 1940s of commercial vehicle traffic 

developing over long distances). 

The United States signed the Convention on December 31, 

1943, and the Senate subsequently ratified it during the 

summer of 1946. Upon deposit of the ratification on October 

29, 1946, the treaty became effective with regard to the 

United States. 3 Bevans at 865. 

Mexico ,signed the treaty on April 14, 1949, with reservations, ratified it on April 30, 1949, and deposited its 

ratification on June 24, 1949. 3 Bevans at 875; Division of 

Law and Treaties, Pan American Union, uter-American 

cations. n 

ReDosits with ILxdanatorv Notea 98 (1954). Mexico's res$" 

vations to the treaty provide: 

1. The approval which the Government of 

Mexico grants is limited to the passage of 

private vehicles which carry their owners, 

family, or friends and which are not used for 

purposes of profit, and 

2. Vehicles, destined for public service. 

in carrying passengers and freight, will 

continue to be subject to the dispositions of 

Mexican legislation. 

See U.S. Dep't of State, United States Treaty Developments 

(Dec. 1950) (updating T.I.A.S. No. 1567 since December 15, 

1943). We are unaware of any subsequent change or addition 

to the Convention. We are also unaware of any United States 

opinion construing either the Convention or the reservations 

to the Convention by Mexico. The Convention is still in 

force between the United States and Mexico. &8 U.S. Dep't 

of State, Treaties in Force: A List of Treaties and Other 

ational Aareement of the United States in Force on 

zm 1. 199Q at 286.' 

Given Mexico's reservations to the Convention, we conclude that the Convention does not establish an arrangement 

between Mexico and the United States for the reciprocal 

p. 6511 
Honorable Benjamin Euresti, Jr. - Page 6 (JM-1226) 

recognition of commercial driver's licenses.3 Since you 

have not mentioned and we have not been able to locate any 

other arrangement between the two countries with regard to 

reciprocal recognition of commercial driver's licenses or 

any Mexican legislation, we conclude that an exemption is 

not currently available under section 3(e) of article 6687b 

to Mexican operators who use commercial motor vehicles that 

are within the scope of the licensing provisions of article 

668733. 

We next address your questions under the new Texas 

Commercial Driver's License Act, article 6687b-2, V.T.C.S. 

Article 668713-2 was added by House Bill 1935 of the 71st 

Legislative Session, which also amended various provisions 

of article 668733 to reflect the new act. Acts 1989, 71st 

Leg., ch. 236, 55 1, 3-8, at 1086-1100. Article 668733-2 

generally became effective April 1, 1990, the date on which 

the amendments to article 6687b took effect.4 

Article 6687b-2 regulates the issuance and continuance 

of driver's licenses for the use of certain commercial motor 

vehicles. Licenses issued under article 6687b-2 are described as commercial driver's licenses and authorize 

individuals to drive various classes of commercial motor 

3. Texas has had in effect since 1976 regulations 

providing that the reciprocal privileges described in the 

1943 Convention are limited to private vehicles. g&g 37 

T.A.C. 8 15.91 (a)-(b), (d)(2) (all commercial buses, trucks 

and trailers are excluded). Since treaties entered into by 

the United States are the supreme law of the land, we base 

our conclusion not on these regulations but on the 1943 Convention as signed with reservations by Mexico. w U.S. 

Const. art. VI, cl. 2: see also Bidalao Countv Anoraisal 

mat . af r N.V,, 756 S.W.2d 754, 756 (Tex. Civ. App. - 

Corp;svChristT 1988 no writ) (state law in conflict with 

United States treaties are invalid to the extent of the 

conflict). 

4. We address your questions under article 6687b-2 

solely with regard to Mexican operators of commercial motor 

vehicles and in light of the 1943 Convention and the 

reservations to that treaty filed by Mexico. Since the 

United States may have different arrangements with other 

countries concerning automotive traffic, we do not address 

the application of article 6687b-2 to residents of those 

other countries. 

p. 6512 
Honorable Benjamin Euresti, Jr. - Page 7 (JM-1226) 

vehicles. V.T.C.S. art. 6687b-2, Sf 3(3), 21. Section 3(6) 

of the act defines %ommercial motor vehicle" for- purposes 

of article 6687b-2 as: 

[A] motor vehicle or combination of motor 

vehicles used to transport passengers or 

property if the motor vehicle: 

(A) has a gross combination weight rating 

of 26,001 or more pounds inclusive of a towed 

unit with a gross vehicle weight rating of 

more than 10,000 pounds; 

(B) has a gross vehicle weight rating of 

26,001 or more pounds: 

(C) is designed to transport 16 or more 

passengers, including the driver: or 

(D) is transporting hazardous materials 

and is required to be placarded in accordance 

with 49 C.F.R. Part 172, Subpart F. 

rc- Section 21(b) of article 668733-2, which took effect April 1, 

1990, authorizes the issuance of commercial driver's 

licenses with Class A, B, and C classifications encompassing 

vehicles classified according to weight rating and passenger 

capacity. Se- also V.T.C.S. art. 6687b-2, 8 3(6). 

The weight ratings and passenger capacity criteria used 

in sections 3(6) and 21(b) of article 6687b-2 are similar to 

the ratings and capacity criteria used in section 4A of 

article 6687b. m V.T.C.S. art. 6687b, S 4(9) (resolving 

the overlap between the two statutes). On or after the date 

the Department of Public Safety (hereinafter the department) 

begins issuance of commercial driver's licenses under 

article 6687b-2, the department may not issue to drivers 

Class A or B licenses under article 66871, unless the drivers 

first provide sworn affidavits stating that the vehicles 

that they will thereafter drive, requiring article 668713 

Class A or Class B driver's licenses, are exempted from the 

definition of commercial motor vehicle in article 6687b-2. 

2L We understand that the department intends to begin 

p. 6513 
Honorable Benjamin Euresti, Jr. - Page 8 (JM-1226) 

issuing commercial 

months.5 

Section 11(a) 

department may not 

license to a person 

domicile.6 Section 

driver's licenses within the 

of article 6687b-2 provides 

generally issue a commercial 

unless Texas is the person's 

next few 

that the 

driver's 

state of 

3(28) defines "state of domicilen as 

"the state where a person has the person*8 true, fixed, and 

permanent home and principal residence and to which the 

person intends to return whenever absent." Section 3(27) 

defines %tate* as a state of the United States or the 

District of Columbia. Thus, foreign countries are not 

included within the term 10state.W 

Section 17 of article 668713-2, however, gives the 

department discretionary authority to issue nonresident commercial driver's licenses. "Nonresident commercial driver's 

licensesH are %ommercial driver's licenses~@ for purposes of 

article 6687b-2 that are issued by a state to a resident of 

a foreign jurisdiction. See V.T.C.S. art. 668713-2, 8 3(23); 

tyi~;y~d.L S S 3(3) (defining "commercial driver's license" 

any license that authorizes the operation of 

5. Until then department begins issuing commercial 

driver's licenses, an article 6687b license that is renewed 

which permits the driving of a commercial motor vehicle as 

described in article 6687b-2 continues in effect until the 

earlier of April 1, 1992, or the date on which the license 

expires or is suspended, revoked, or cancelled. April 1, 

1992 is the effective date of the prohibition in section 9 

of article 668733-2 that provides a person may not drive a 

commercial motor vehicle covered by the new act without 

possession of a valid commercial driver#s license. Acts 

1989, 71st Leg., ch. 236, 5 12, at 1101. L 5 12(b). 

6. The purpose of article 668733-2 is to implement the 

federal Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986, 49 

U.S.C. app. 58 2701-16. V.T.C.S. art. 6687b-2, 8 2. Both 

the federal act and the state act contemplate that a person 

operating a commercial motor vehicle will have only one 

license. See. e.a,, 49 U.S.C. app. 5 2701; V.T.C.S. art. 

668713-2, 5 4; see also 49 C.F.R. 5 383.21. Section 

2708(a) (14) of the federal act requires that a state permit 

a qualified driver holding a commercial motor vehicle 

license from another state to operate commercial motor 

vehicles within its boundaries. 

p. 6514 
Honorable Benjamin Euresti, Jr. - Page 9 (JM-1226) 

commercial motor vehicles issued in accordance with article 

668733-2). 

Section 17, which took effect April 1, 1990, provides 

that the department may issue nonresident commercial 

driver's licenses to residents of a foreign jurisdiction "if 

the United States Secretary of Transportation has determined 

that the commercial motor vehicle testing and licensing 

standards in the foreign jurisdiction do not meet the 

standards established in 49 C.F.R. Part 383."7 A "foreign 

jurisdiction" is a ujurisdiction other than a state of the 

United States." V.T.C.S. art. 6687b-2, 5 3(18); see also 37 

T.A.C. 8 16.41 (describing Mexico as a foreign jurisdiction 

for purposes of article 6687b-2 and stating that a 

nonresident must satisfy certain requirements). Before 

issuing such a license, the department must ascertain the 

practical capacity of discontinuing the license and 

disqualifying the person "with the same conditions 

applicable to a commercial driver's license issued to a 

resident of this state." V.T.C.S. art. 6687b-2, 5 17. We 

are informed that the department intends to begin issuing 

nonresident commercial driver's licenses at the same time as 

resident commercial driver's licenses. 

The language used in section 17 suggests that the 

department may not issue nonresident commercial driver's 

licenses unless the federal government has issued a formal 

determination that a foreign jurisdiction's standards do not 

satisfy federal requirements. However, a review of all the 

provisions of'the .act reveal that the legislature intended 

that a nonresident obtain a nonresident commercial driver's 

license unless the testing and licensing standards of the 

nonresident's jurisdiction had been found satisfactory by 

the federal government. &8 V.T.C.S. art. 668733-2, 5 9(a) 

(a person may not drive a commercial motor vehicle unless he 

possesses a valid commercial driver's license): & 5 31(a) 

(mandatory recognition by Texas of certain out-of-state 

7. Federal regulations, which take effect April 1, 

1992, require a commercial motor vehicle operator domiciled 

in a foreign jurisdiction to obtain a nonresident commercial 

driver's license from a state that complies with the 

applicable federal standards if the Department of Transportation has determined that the jurisdiction does not have 

testing and licensing standards in accordance with or 

similar to the. applicable federal regulations. 49 C.F.R. 

S 383.23(b). 

r 

p. 6515 
Honorable Benjamin Euresti, Jr. - Page 10 (JM-1226) 

licenses upon recognition by federal government of issuer's 

standards). Unless Texas can issue nonresident commercial 

driver's licenses pending a determination of satisfactory 

standards by the federal government, nonresident operators 

of commercial motor vehicles may be placed in the difficult 

position of needing commercial driver's licenses without a 

means for acquiring such licenses. 

commercial traffic along Texas 

Given the importance of 

borders, it is doubtful the 

legislature intended to place nonresident operators in such 

a position. Thus, we construe section 17 as authorizing the 

issuance of nonresident commercial driver's licenses unless 

the federal government has determined that the standards of 

the nonresident*8 jurisdiction meet applicable federal 

requirements. 

Section 31(a) of article 6687b-2, also effective April 

1, 1990, establishes two bases for reciprocal recognition of 

licenses obtained outside Texas. 

a commercial motor 

First, a person may drive 

vehicle in Texas if he has a valid 

commercial driver's license or commercial driver learner's 

permit issued by another state in accordance with the 

applicable federal standards. 

commercial driver's 

Since section 3(3) defines 

licenses as licenses issued in 

accordance with article 668713-2, 

section 31(a) 

the phrase as used in 

obviously refers to commercial driver's 

licenses as defined in and issued under other states' laws. 

The federal Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 

anticipates that all of the states will eventually have in 

effect statutes similar to article 6687b-2 and will 

recognize commercial driver's licenses issued by other 

states. 49 U.S.C. app. 5 2708. 

under the federal act also 

Federal regulations adopted 

anticipate that all states will 

recognize commercial drivers8 licenses issued by other 

states. 49 C.F.R. 8 383.73(h). 

For two reasons, 

interpret section 31(a) 

we believe it is appropriate to 

in light of the provisions of the 

federal act and regulations. First, such an interpretation 

effectuates the single license requirement of the state and 

federal commercial driver's licenses acts. &g 49 U.S.C. 

app. 5 2701: V.T.C.S. art. 6687b-2, 5 4(a). Second, that 

interpretation enhances the effectiveness of the nationwide 

information system that the federal act establishes for 

purposes of tracking the driving record of all commercial 

drivers. See. e-a,, 49 U.S.C. app. 5 2706 (computerized 

system for licensing and disqualification of commercial 

drivers based on possession of single licenses). 

conclude that if a Mexican operator 

Thus, we 

of a commercial motor 

vehicle as defined in article 6687b-2 obtains a nonresident 

-\ 

P. 6516 
. 

Honorable Benjamin Euresti, Jr. - Page 11 (JM-1226) 

commercial driver's license from another state, that license 

is entitled to recognition in Texas in accordance with 

section 31(a), and that operator is not required to obtain a 

Texas nonresident commercial driver's license. 

Section 31(a) also provides #at a person may drive a 

commercial motor vehicle as defined by article 6687b-2 in 

Texas if that person has a valid commercial driver's license 

issued by a foreign jurisdiction for which the United States 

Department of Transportation has made a determination that 

the jurisdiction's testing and licensing standards satisfy 

certain federal requirements. 8 While we have confirmed that 

the federal government has determined that Canada's 

standards satisfy the applicable requirements, we are not 

aware of such a determination with regard to Mexico*8 standards. m 49 C.F.R. 5 383.23(b) n.1 (effective December 

29, 1988, certain Canadian licenses accepted instead of 

nonresident commercial licenses in accordance with single 

license requirement); see also 53 Fed. Reg. 27634 (July 21, 

1988) (Mexican standards undergoing analysis). 

Until the federal government makes a determination that 

the testing and licensing standards of Mexico satisfy the 

applicable federal requirements, a Mexican operator of a 

commercial motor vehicle as defined in article 6687b-2 must 

obtain a driver's license as required by state law. Prior 

to the department's issuance of commercial driver's 

licenses, including 'nonresident commercial driver's 

licenses, a Mexican resident may operate a commercial motor 

vehicle as defined in article 6687b-2 if he has either a 

8. According to section 31(a) the following conditions 

must also be satisfied: 

(1) the person's license or permit [issued by the 

foreign jurisdiction] is appropriate for the class of 

vehicle being driven and is not suspended, revoked, or 

canceled; 

(2) the person is not disqualified from driving 

a commercial motor vehicle or subject to an out-ofservice order: and 

(3) the person has not been domiciled in this 

state for more than 30 days. 

p. 6517 
Honorable Benjamin Euresti, Jr. - Page 12 (JM-1226) 

license appropriate for the class of vehicle being driven 

that is issued in accordance with article 6687b or a 

nonresident commercial driver's license issued by another 

state that is entitled to recognition in Texas in accordance 

with section 31(a). After the date on which the department 

begins issuance of nonresident commercial driver's licenses, 

a Mexican operator of a vehicle within the scope of article 

668713-2 must possess either a nonresident commercial 

driver's license issued by Texas or one issued by another 

state that is entitled to recognition in Texas. If a 

Mexican operator of commercial motor vehicles as defined in 

article 6687b-2 acquires a license under article 6687b 

before the department begins issuance of nonresident 

commercial driver's licenses, he may continue to use that 

license until it expires or is suspended, revoked, or 

cancelled. 

SUMMARY 

Absent a reciprocal arrangement between 

Mexico and Texas or the United States for the 

recognition of commercial driver's licenses 

or any Mexican legislation allowing licensed 

Texas commercial drivers to operate their 

vehicles on Mexican highways without obtaining local licenses, an exemption under 

section 3(e) of article 6687b is not available from that act's licensing provisions for 

Mexican operators of motor vehicles within 

the scope of article 6687b that are used for 

commercial purposes. Thus, Mexican operators 

of such vehicles must obtain licenses in 

accordance with article 6687b. 

Until the federal government determines 

that Mexico*8 testing and licensing standards 

satisfy applicable federal requirements, a 

Mexican operator of a commercial motor 

vehicle within the scope of the Texas 

Commercial Driver's License Act, V.T.C.S. 

article 6687b-2, must obtain a Texas driver's 

license as required by state law. Until the 

Department of Public Safety begins issuance 

of nonresident commercial driver's licenses 

under article 6687b-2, such an operator 

should obtain a license appropriate for the 

class of vehicles being driven that is issued 

in accordance with article 6687b or 

nonresident commercial driver's licensz 

issued by another state that is entitled to 

-, 

p. 6518 
Honorable Benjamin Euresti, Jr. - Page 13 (JM-1226) 

recognition in Texas in accordance With 

section 31(a) of article 6687b-2. After the 

date on which the department begins issuance 

of nonresident commercial driver?8 licenses, 

such an operator must possess either 

nonresident commercial driver's licenst 

issued by Texas or by another state that is 

entitled to recognition in Texas. However, 

if a Mexican operator acquires a license 

under article 6687b before that date, he may 

continue to use that license until it expires 

or is suspended, revoked, or cancelled. 

JIM MATTOX 

Attorney General of Texas 

MARYKELLER 

First Assistant Attorney General 

P LOU MCCREARY 

Executive Assistant Attorney General 

JUDGE ZOLLIE STKAKLEY 

Special Assistant Attorney General 

RENKA HICKS 

Special Assistant Attorney General 

RICK GILPIN 

Chairman, Opinion Committee 

Prepared by Celeste A. Baker 

Assistant Attorney General 

p. 6519