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Traffic Laws

 

545.414.  Riding in open beds; offense.
 

(a) 

A person commits an offense if the person operates an open-bed pickup truck or an open flatbed truck or draws an open flatbed trailer when a child younger than 18 [12] years of age is occupying the bed of the  truck or trailer.

(b)

An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $25 or more than $200.

(c)

It is a defense to prosecution under this section that the person was:

(1) operating or towing the vehicle in a parade or in an emergency;

(2) operating the vehicle to transport farmworkers from one field to another field on a farm-to-market road, ranch-to-market road, or county road outside a municipality;
(3) operating the vehicle on a beach;
(4) operating a vehicle that is the only vehicle owned or operated by the members of a household; or
(5) operating the vehicle in a hayride permitted by the governing body of or a law enforcement agency of each county or municipality in which the hayride will occur.

(d)

Compliance or noncompliance with Subsection (a) is not admissible evidence in a civil trial.

(e)

In this section, "household" has the meaning assigned by Section 71.005, Family Code.

(Added by L.2001, chap. 165(1), eff. 9/1/2001.)

 
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