HBA-CMT S.B. 268 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 268 By: Ogden Transportation 4/12/2001 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, the fine for a misdemeanor traffic offense is not less than $1 or more than $200. In the year 2000, the Department of Public Safety issued more than 8,000 citations to people driving at least 95 miles per hour on Texas highways and rural roads. According to the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration, of the 3,518 traffic related fatalities in Texas in 1999, 1,332 of those fatalities were speeding related. Senate Bill 268 provides stricter penalty for excessive speeding by operators of motor vehicles. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS Senate Bill 268 amends the Transportation Code require a fine of no less than $200 or greater than $500 to be charged to a person who commits the offense of driving at a speed of 95 miles per hour or more. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.