While many of us have spent hours debating the latest position of Obama health care plan and whether congress and others are “spinning facts with fiction”, we might want to pause for just a minute and catch up on a number of new pieces of legislation in Texas that could have immediate impact on us and have a slightly longer affect on our bottom-line.

There are always a number of motor vehicle amendments and or new laws that change from legislative session to legislative session and there is no exception this year.  On the Texas Department of Motor Vehicle website there are more than twenty new pieces of legislation posted that will provide motorist with a “sticker shock” if they are not prepared.  And remember, as always, ignorance of the law is no excuse. 
So get ready for the results of your tax dollars, after the last Texas Legislative session.

Beginning September 1…
Slow down! Drivers ticketed at more than 95 mph cannot take a driving safety class to dismiss the citation.
Get some insurance and be careful…not having insurance and getting caught could land you a felony.  HB 2012 creates two new punishment enhancements: a Class B misdemeanor if a person drives with a suspended license and without insurance; and a class A misdemeanor if the person driving without insurance or a valid driver license has an accident and someone is seriously injured or dies as a result of that accident. 

Put up the phone until after you get to your destination. HB 55 makes it illegal to use a wireless communication device in a school zone unless the vehicle is stopped or a hands-free device is used. Cities or counties wanting to enforce this law must post a sign at the beginning of each school zone to inform drivers that using a wireless communications device is prohibited and the operator is subject to a fine. It is a defense to prosecution if the operator was making an emergency call.
HB 537 requires all occupants of a vehicle, no matter their age, to be secured by a safety belt, no matter where they are seated in the vehicle.
SB 61 amends the existing statute regarding child passenger safety seats. The bill requires that any child younger than eight years of age be restrained in an approved child passenger safety seat unless the child is at least 4 feet, 9 inches in height.

Senate Bill 328 - Give DPS the power to suspend a minor’s driver license if they fail a breath or blood alcohol test while operating a watercraft.
One of the most hotly debated items has to do with marijuana.  Just recently Mexico legalized personal use of marijuana and de-criminalized a laundry list of other contraband.  Maybe the Lone Star State is next. But for now, this is the expansion of possibilities for Texas residents.
Police will have discretion to issue citations instead of arresting those in possession of four ounces or less of marijuana. The offender must live in the county where they are stopped and must not be considered a threat to public safety.
So buckle up, slow down, get some insurance and no, it's not legal to smoke pot in Texas.