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

TRANSPORTATION CODE

TITLE 7. VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC

SUBTITLE J. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

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

MOTOR VEHICLES

Sec. 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, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Sec. 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, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Sec. 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) Department of State Health Services and Department of Aging

and Disability Services;

(4) Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas;

(5) 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) Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending;

(12) Texas Juvenile Probation Commission;

(13) Texas Commission on Environmental Quality;

(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(b) Repealed by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 81, Sec. 2, eff.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, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 81, Sec. 1, 2, eff. Sept. 1,

2001.

Amended by:

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.

921, Sec. 6.066, eff. September 1, 2007.

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.

1308, Sec. 48, eff. June 15, 2007.

Sec. 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, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Sec. 721.005. EXEMPTION FROM INSCRIPTION REQUIREMENT FOR CERTAIN

MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY-OWNED MOTOR VEHICLES. (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;

(C) medical examiner;

(D) municipal code enforcement officer designated to enforce

environmental criminal laws; or

(E) municipal fire marshal or arson investigator; 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, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 355, Sec. 1, eff. May 27,

1997; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 46, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997;

Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 62, Sec. 17.38, eff. Sept. 1, 1999;

Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 66, Sec. 1, eff. May 14, 2001; Acts

2001, 77th Leg., ch. 140, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.

Amended by:

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.

45, Sec. 1, eff. May 8, 2007.

Sec. 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, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.