Texas Transportation Code Title 7, Chapter 545 - Operation And Movement Of Vehicles

SUBCHAPTER A GENERAL PROVISIONS

• Texas Section 545.001 - Definitions
  In this chapter: (1) "Pass" or "passing" used in reference to a vehicle means to overtake and proceed past another vehicle moving in the same...

SUBCHAPTER B DRIVING ON RIGHT SIDE OF ROADWAY AND PASSING

• Texas Section 545.002 - Operator
  In this chapter, a reference to an operator includes a reference to the vehicle operated by the operator if the reference imposes a duty or...
• Texas Section 545.051 - Driving On Right Side Of Roadway
  (a) An operator on a roadway of sufficient width shall drive on the right half of the roadway, unless: (1) the operator is passing another...
• Texas Section 545.052 - Driving Past Vehicle Moving In Opposite Direction
  An operator moving in the opposite direction of the movement of another operator shall: (1) move to or remain to the right; and (2) on...
• Texas Section 545.053 - Passing To The Left; Return; Being Passed
  (a) An operator passing another vehicle: (1) shall pass to the left of the other vehicle at a safe distance; and (2) may not move...
• Texas Section 545.054 - Passing To The Left: Safe Distance
  (a) An operator may not drive on the left side of the center of the roadway in passing another vehicle unless: (1) driving on the...
• Texas Section 545.055 - Passing To The Left: Passing Zones
  (a) An operator shall obey the directions of a sign or marking in Subsection (c) or (d) if the sign or marking is in place...
• Texas Section 545.056 - Driving To Left Of Center Of Roadway: Limitations Other Than Passing
  (a) An operator may not drive to the left side of the roadway if the operator is: (1) approaching within 100 feet of an intersection...
• Texas Section 545.057 - Passing To The Right
  (a) An operator may pass to the right of another vehicle only if conditions permit safely passing to the right and: (1) the vehicle being...
• Texas Section 545.058 - Driving On Improved Shoulder
  (a) An operator may drive on an improved shoulder to the right of the main traveled portion of a roadway if that operation is necessary...
• Texas Section 545.059 - One-way Roadways And Rotary Traffic Islands
  (a) The Texas Transportation Commission may designate a highway or separate roadway under the jurisdiction of the commission for one-way traffic and shall erect appropriate...
• Texas Section 545.060 - Driving On Roadway Laned For Traffic
  (a) An operator on a roadway divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for traffic: (1) shall drive as nearly as practical entirely within...
• Texas Section 545.061 - Driving On Multiple-lane Roadway
  On a roadway divided into three or more lanes and providing for one-way movement of traffic, an operator entering a lane of traffic from a...
• Texas Section 545.062 - Following Distance
  (a) An operator shall, if following another vehicle, maintain an assured clear distance between the two vehicles so that, considering the speed of the vehicles,...
• Texas Section 545.063 - Driving On Divided Highway
  (a) On a highway having two or more roadways separated by a space, physical barrier, or clearly indicated dividing section constructed to impede vehicular traffic,...
• Texas Section 545.064 - Restricted Access
  An operator may not drive on or from a limited-access or controlled-access roadway except at an entrance or exit that is established by a public...
• Texas Section 545.065 - State And Local Regulation Of Limited-access Or Controlled-access Highways
  (a) The Texas Transportation Commission by resolution or order recorded in its minutes may prohibit the use of a limited-access or controlled-access highway under the...
• Texas Section 545.0651 - Restriction On Use Of Highway
  (a) In this section: (1) "Commission" means the Texas Transportation Commission. (1-a) "Department" means the Texas Department of Transportation. (2) "Highway" means a public highway...
• Texas Section 545.0652 - County Restriction On Use Of Highway
  (a) In this section: (1) "Department" means the Texas Department of Transportation. (2) "Highway" means a public roadway that: (A) is in the designated state...
• Texas Section 545.0653 - Restriction On Use Of Highway In Maintenance Or Construction Work Zone
  (a) In this section: (1) "Commercial motor vehicle" has the meaning assigned by Section 548.001. (2) "Construction or maintenance work zone" has the meaning assigned...

SUBCHAPTER C TURNING AND SIGNALS FOR STOPPING AND TURNING

• Texas Section 545.066 - Passing A School Bus; Offense
  (a) An operator on a highway, when approaching from either direction a school bus stopped on the highway to receive or discharge a student: (1)...
• Texas Section 545.101 - Turning At Intersection
  (a) To make a right turn at an intersection, an operator shall make both the approach and the turn as closely as practicable to the...
• Texas Section 545.102 - Turning On Curve Or Crest Of Grade
  An operator may not turn the vehicle to move in the opposite direction when approaching a curve or the crest of a grade if the...
• Texas Section 545.103 - Safely Turning
  An operator may not turn the vehicle to enter a private road or driveway, otherwise turn the vehicle from a direct course, or move right...
• Texas Section 545.104 - Signaling Turns; Use Of Turn Signals
  (a) An operator shall use the signal authorized by Section 545.106 to indicate an intention to turn, change lanes, or start from a parked position....
• Texas Section 545.105 - Signaling Stops
  An operator may not stop or suddenly decrease the speed of the vehicle without first giving a stop signal as provided by this subchapter to...
• Texas Section 545.106 - Signals By Hand And Arm Or By Signal Lamp
  (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), an operator required to give a stop or turn signal shall do so by: (1) using the hand...

SUBCHAPTER D RIGHT-OF-WAY

• Texas Section 545.107 - Method Of Giving Hand And Arm Signals
  An operator who is permitted to give a hand and arm signal shall give the signal from the left side of the vehicle as follows:...
• Texas Section 545.151 - Vehicle Approaching Or Entering Intersection
  (a) An operator approaching an intersection: (1) shall stop, yield, and grant immediate use of the intersection: (A) in obedience to an official traffic-control device,...
• Texas Section 545.152 - Vehicle Turning Left
  To turn left at an intersection or into an alley or private road or driveway, an operator shall yield the right-of-way to a vehicle that...
• Texas Section 545.153 - Vehicle Entering Stop Or Yield Intersection
  (a) Preferential right-of-way at an intersection may be indicated by a stop sign or yield sign as authorized in Section 544.003. (b) Unless directed to...
• Texas Section 545.154 - Vehicle Entering Or Leaving Limited-access Or Controlled-access Highway
  An operator on an access or feeder road of a limited-access or controlled-access highway shall yield the right-of-way to a vehicle entering or about to...
• Texas Section 545.155 - Vehicle Entering Highway From Private Road Or Driveway
  An operator about to enter or cross a highway from an alley, building, or private road or driveway shall yield the right-of-way to a vehicle...
• Texas Section 545.156 - Vehicle Approached By Authorized Emergency Vehicle
  (a) On the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle using audible and visual signals that meet the requirements of Sections 547.305 and 547.702, or...

SUBCHAPTER E STREETCARS

• Texas Section 545.157 - Passing Certain Vehicles
  (a) This section applies only to the following vehicles: (1) a stationary authorized emergency vehicle using visual signals that meet the requirements of Sections 547.305...
• Texas Section 545.201 - Passing Streetcar To Left
  (a) An operator may not pass to the left or drive on the left side of a streetcar moving in the same direction, even if...
• Texas Section 545.202 - Passing Streetcar To Right
  (a) An operator passing to the right of a streetcar stopped or about to stop to receive or discharge a passenger shall: (1) stop the...
• Texas Section 545.203 - Driving On Streetcar Tracks
  (a) An operator on a streetcar track in front of a streetcar shall move the operator's vehicle off the track as soon as possible after...
• Texas Section 545.204 - Streetcar Approached By Authorized Emergency Vehicle
  (a) On the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle using audible and visual signals that meet the requirements of Sections 547.305 and 547.702, or...
• Texas Section 545.205 - Crossing Fire Hose
  An operator of a streetcar may not, without the consent of the fire department official in command, drive over an unprotected hose of a fire...

SUBCHAPTER F SPECIAL STOPS AND SPEED RESTRICTIONS

• Texas Section 545.206 - Obstruction Of Operator's View Or Driving Mechanism
  A passenger in a streetcar may not ride in a position that interferes with the operator's view ahead or to the side or with control...
• Texas Section 545.251 - Obedience To Signal Indicating Approach Of Train
  (a) An operator approaching a railroad grade crossing shall stop not closer than 15 feet or farther than 50 feet from the nearest rail if:...
• Texas Section 545.252 - All Vehicles To Stop At Certain Railroad Grade Crossings
  (a) The Texas Department of Transportation or a local authority, with respect to a highway in its jurisdiction, may: (1) designate a railroad grade crossing...
• Texas Section 545.253 - Buses To Stop At All Railroad Grade Crossings
  (a) Except as provided by Subsection (c), the operator of a motor bus carrying passengers for hire, before crossing a railroad grade crossing: (1) shall...
• Texas Section 545.2535 - School Buses To Stop At All Railroad Grade Crossings
  (a) Except as provided by Subsection (c), the operator of a school bus, before crossing a track at a railroad grade crossing: (1) shall stop...
• Texas Section 545.254 - Vehicles Carrying Explosive Substances Or Flammable Liquids
  (a) Before crossing a railroad grade crossing, an operator of a vehicle that has an explosive substance or flammable liquid as the vehicle's principal cargo...
• Texas Section 545.255 - Moving Heavy Equipment At Railroad Grade Crossings
  (a) This section applies only to: (1) a crawler-type tractor, steam shovel, derrick, or roller; and (2) any other equipment or structure with: (A) a...
• Texas Section 545.2555 - Report And Investigation Of Certain Railroad Crossing Violations
  (a) A person who on site observes a violation of Section 545.251, 545.252, 545.253, 545.254, or 545.255 may file a report of the violation if...

SUBCHAPTER G STOPPING, STANDING, AND PARKING

• Texas Section 545.256 - Emerging From An Alley, Driveway, Or Building
  An operator emerging from an alley, driveway, or building in a business or residence district shall: (1) stop the vehicle before moving on a sidewalk...
• Texas Section 545.301 - Stopping, Standing, Or Parking Outside A Business Or Residence District
  (a) An operator may not stop, park, or leave standing an attended or unattended vehicle on the main traveled part of a highway outside a...
• Texas Section 545.302 - Stopping, Standing, Or Parking Prohibited In Certain Places
  (a) An operator may not stop, stand, or park a vehicle: (1) on the roadway side of a vehicle stopped or parked at the edge...
• Texas Section 545.303 - Additional Parking Regulations
  (a) An operator who stops or parks on a two-way roadway shall do so with the right-hand wheels of the vehicle parallel to and within...
• Texas Section 545.304 - Moving The Vehicle Of Another; Unlawful Parking
  A person may not move a vehicle that is not lawfully under the person's control: (1) into an area where a vehicle is prohibited under...
• Texas Section 545.305 - Removal Of Unlawfully Stopped Vehicle
  (a) A peace officer listed under Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, or a license and weight inspector of the department may remove or require...
• Texas Section 545.3051 - Removal Of Personal Property From Roadway Or Right-of-way
  (a) In this section: (1) "Authority" means: (A) a metropolitan rapid transit authority operating under Chapter 451; or (B) a regional transportation authority operating under...
• Texas Section 545.306 - Regulation Of Towing Companies In Certain Counties
  (a) The commissioners court of a county with a population of 3.3 million or more shall by ordinance provide for the licensing of or the...
• Texas Section 545.307 - Overnight Parking Of Commercial Motor Vehicle In Or Near Residential Subdivision
  (a) In this section: (1) "Commercial motor vehicle" means: (A) a commercial motor vehicle, as defined by Section 522.003, and includes a vehicle meeting that...

SUBCHAPTER H SPEED RESTRICTIONS

• Texas Section 545.308 - Presumption
  The governing body of a local authority, by ordinance, order, or other official action, may provide that in a prosecution for an offense under this...
• Texas Section 545.351 - Maximum Speed Requirement
  (a) An operator may not drive at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the circumstances then existing. (b) An operator: (1) may...
• Texas Section 545.352 - Prima Facie Speed Limits
  (a) A speed in excess of the limits established by Subsection (b) or under another provision of this subchapter is prima facie evidence that the...
• Texas Section 545.353 - Authority Of Texas Transportation Commission To Alter Speed Limits
  (a) If the Texas Transportation Commission determines from the results of an engineering and traffic investigation that a prima facie speed limit in this subchapter...
• Texas Section 545.3535 - Authority Of Texas Transportation Commission To Alter Speed Limits On Certain Roads
  (a) The commissioners court of a county by resolution may request the Texas Transportation Commission to determine and declare a reasonable and safe prima facie...
• Texas Section 545.354 - Authority Of Regional Tollway Authorities To Alter Speed Limits On Turnpike Projects
  (a) (1) In this section, "authority" means a regional tollway authority governed by Chapter 366. (2) If an authority determines from the results of an...
• Texas Section 545.355 - Authority Of County Commissioners Court To Alter Speed Limits
  (a) The commissioners court of a county, for a county road or highway outside the limits of the right-of-way of an officially designated or marked...
• Texas Section 545.356 - Authority Of Municipality To Alter Speed Limits
  (a) The governing body of a municipality, for a highway or part of a highway in the municipality, including a highway of the state highway...
• Texas Section 545.3561 - Authority Of Municipality Or County To Temporarily Lower Speed Limit At Vehicular Accident Reconstruction Site
  (a) The governing body of a municipality by ordinance may give a designated official with transportation engineering experience establishing speed limits discretion to temporarily lower...
• Texas Section 545.357 - Public Hearing To Consider Speed Limits Where Certain Schools Are Located
  (a) The governing body of a municipality in which a public or private elementary or secondary school or an institution of higher education as defined...
• Texas Section 545.358 - Authority Of Commanding Officer Of United States Military Reservation To Alter Speed Limits
  The commanding officer of a United States military reservation, for a highway or part of a highway in the military reservation, including a highway of...
• Texas Section 545.359 - Conflicting Designated Speed Limits
  An order of the Texas Transportation Commission declaring a speed limit on a part of a designated or marked route of the state highway system...
• Texas Section 545.360 - Duty Of Texas Transportation Commission And State Board Of Education To Provide Information And Assistance
  The chairman of the Texas Transportation Commission and the chairman of the State Board of Education shall provide assistance and information relevant to consideration of...
• Texas Section 545.361 - Special Speed Limitations
  (a) An operator of a motor-driven cycle may not drive at a speed of more than 35 miles per hour during the time specified by...
• Texas Section 545.362 - Temporary Speed Limits
  (a) Subject to Subsection (c), the Texas Transportation Commission may enter an order establishing prima facie speed limits of not more than 75 miles per...
• Texas Section 545.3625 - Confidentiality Of Violation Information: Fuel Conservation Speed Limit
  (a) If a person violates a maximum prima facie speed limit imposed under Section 545.362, as that law existed immediately before December 8, 1995, and...
• Texas Section 545.363 - Minimum Speed Regulations
  (a) An operator may not drive so slowly as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, except when reduced speed is necessary for...

SUBCHAPTER I MISCELLANEOUS RULES

• Texas Section 545.365 - Speed Limit Exception For Emergencies; Municipal Regulation
  (a) The regulation of the speed of a vehicle under this subchapter does not apply to: (1) an authorized emergency vehicle responding to a call;...
• Texas Section 545.401 - Reckless Driving; Offense
  (a) A person commits an offense if the person drives a vehicle in wilful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. (b)...
• Texas Section 545.402 - Moving A Parked Vehicle
  An operator may not begin movement of a stopped, standing, or parked vehicle unless the movement can be made safely. Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch....
• Texas Section 545.403 - Driving Through Safety Zone
  An operator may not drive through or in a safety zone. Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
• Texas Section 545.404 - Unattended Motor Vehicle
  (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), an operator may not leave a vehicle unattended without: (1) stopping the engine; (2) locking the ignition; (3)...
• Texas Section 545.405 - Driving On Mountain Highway
  An operator moving through a defile or canyon or on a mountain highway shall: (1) hold the vehicle under control and as near the right-hand...
• Texas Section 545.406 - Coasting
  (a) An operator moving on a downgrade may not coast with the gears or transmission of the vehicle in neutral. (b) An operator of a...
• Texas Section 545.407 - Following Or Obstructing Fire Apparatus Or Ambulance
  (a) An operator, unless on official business, may not follow closer than 500 feet a fire apparatus responding to a fire alarm or drive into...
• Texas Section 545.408 - Crossing Fire Hose
  An operator may not, without the consent of the fire department official in command, drive over an unprotected hose of a fire department if the...
• Texas Section 545.409 - Drawbars And Trailer Hitches; Saddle-mount Towing
  (a) The drawbar or other connection between a vehicle drawing another vehicle and the drawn vehicle: (1) must be strong enough to pull all weight...
• Texas Section 545.410 - Towing Safety Chains
  (a) An operator of a passenger car or light truck may not draw a trailer, semitrailer, house trailer, or another motor vehicle unless safety chains...
• Texas Section 545.411 - Use Of Rest Area: Offense
  (a) A person commits an offense if the person remains at a rest area for longer than 24 hours or erects a tent, shelter, booth,...
• Texas Section 545.412 - Child Passenger Safety Seat Systems; Offense
  Sec. 545.412. CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY SEAT SYSTEMS; OFFENSE. (a) A person commits an offense if the person operates a passenger vehicle, transports a child who...
• Texas Section 545.4121 - Dismissal; Obtaining Child Passenger Safety Seat System
  (a) This section applies to an offense committed under Section 545.412. (b) It is a defense to prosecution of an offense to which this section...
• Texas Section 545.413 - Safety Belts; Offense
  (a) A person commits an offense if: (1) the person: (A) is at least 15 years of age; (B) is riding in a passenger vehicle...
• Texas Section 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...
• Texas Section 545.4145 - Riding In Or On Boat Or Personal Watercraft Drawn By Vehicle; Offense
  (a) A person commits an offense if the person operates a motor vehicle on a highway or street when a child younger than 18 years...
• Texas Section 545.415 - Backing A Vehicle
  (a) An operator may not back the vehicle unless the movement can be made safely and without interference with other traffic. (b) An operator may...
• Texas Section 545.416 - Riding On Motorcycle
  (a) An operator of a motorcycle shall ride on the permanent and regular seat attached to the motorcycle. (b) An operator may not carry another...
• Texas Section 545.4165 - Operation Of Certain Motorcycles
  A person may not operate a motorcycle described by Section 521.001(a)(6-a)(C)(vii) on a public highway for which the posted speed limit is more than 45...
• Texas Section 545.417 - Obstruction Of Operator's View Or Driving Mechanism
  (a) An operator may not drive a vehicle when it is loaded so that, or when the front seat has a number of persons, exceeding...
• Texas Section 545.418 - Opening Vehicle Doors
  A person may not: (1) open the door of a motor vehicle on the side available to moving traffic, unless the door may be opened...
• Texas Section 545.419 - Riding In House Trailer
  A person may not occupy a house trailer while it is being moved. Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
• Texas Section 545.4191 - Person Riding In Trailer Or Semitrailer Drawn By Truck, Road Tractor, Or Truck Tractor
  (a) A person may not operate a truck, road tractor, or truck tractor when another person occupies a trailer or semitrailer being drawn by the...
• Texas Section 545.420 - Racing On Highway
  (a) A person may not participate in any manner in: (1) a race; (2) a vehicle speed competition or contest; (3) a drag race or...
• Texas Section 545.421 - Fleeing Or Attempting To Elude Police Officer; Offense
  (a) A person commits an offense if the person operates a motor vehicle and wilfully fails or refuses to bring the vehicle to a stop...
• Texas Section 545.422 - Crossing Sidewalk Or Hike And Bike Trail
  (a) A person may not drive a motor vehicle on a sidewalk, sidewalk area, or hike and bike trail except on a permanent or authorized...
• Texas Section 545.423 - Crossing Property
  (a) An operator may not cross a sidewalk or drive through a driveway, parking lot, or business or residential entrance without stopping the vehicle. (b)...
• Texas Section 545.424 - Operation Of Vehicle By Person Under 18 Years Of Age
  (a) A person under 18 years of age may not operate a motor vehicle while using a wireless communications device, except in case of emergency....
• Texas Section 545.425 - Use Of Wireless Communication Device In A School Crossing Zone Or While Operating A School Bus With A Minor Passenger; Offense
  (a) In this section: (1) "Hands-free device" means speakerphone capability or a telephone attachment or other piece of equipment, regardless of whether permanently installed in...
• Texas Section 545.4252 - Use Of Wireless Communication Device On School Property; Offense
  (a) In this section: (1) "Hands-free device" has the meaning assigned by Section 545.425. (2) "Wireless communication device" has the meaning assigned by Section 545.425....
• Texas Section 545.426 - Operation Of School Bus
  (a) A person may not operate a school bus if: (1) the door of the school bus is open; or (2) the number of passengers...
• Texas Section 545.427 - Operation Of Vehicle With Insufficient Undercarriage Clearance
  (a) An operator may not drive on or cross a railroad grade crossing unless the vehicle being operated has sufficient undercarriage clearance. (b) An offense...

Last modified: September 28, 2016