The state of Texas just passed stronger seat-belt laws to protect both drivers and passenger on our roads. Starting September 1st, 2009 the changes will be in effect. The bill that makes these changes is called House Bill 537 and was produced by Leo Berman a Republican from Tyler Texas. These changes were put in place because according to the Texas Department of Transportation 183 people died and 4046 people were injured when riding in cars or trucks without wearing seatbelts in 2008. If you break this law the fine will be $25 or $50 if adults in the back seat are not buckled up. The driver and or the passenger may be fined. If you have a child in the back seat that is not buckled up the fine is $100-$200.
The changes as of September 1st are:
- Children under eight years old must be in a safety seat or booster seat unless they are over 4 feet 9 inches tall.
- Children under five years old may not ride on the back of a motorcycle, but they may ride in a sidecar.
- Drivers may not use cell phones while in School zones unless they use a hands-free device. (this may cause headaches with some parents sitting in line to pick up children, as the time spent waiting can be considerable. The City of Austin plans to install signs notifying drivers of the phone free zones.
If you are in the market for a home and are not presently working with a Realtor, please call me. I would be happy to help you through the process of buying a home in Austin. I have a network of experts to make the process easy to navigate. I look forward to the opportunity to earn your business.
Betina Foreman, Realtor
Keller Williams Real Estate 1801 S. Mopac, Suite 100 Austin, Texas 78746 512-771-6318 BetinaForemanRealtor@yahoo.com Betina@KW.com www.ZilkerParkHomes.com
Member: Austin Board of Realtors, Texas Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, ActiveRain, Trulia-Top Voices, and Zillow-Neighborhood Pros.
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