This section makes certain registration, insurance, and cab-card failures offenses, and it sets misdemeanor levels for some violations.
Sec. 643.253. OFFENSES AND PENALTIES. (a) A person commits an offense if the person fails to: (1) register as required by Subchapter B; (2) maintain insurance or evidence of financial responsibility as required by Subchapter C; or (3) keep a cab card in the cab of a vehicle as required by Section 643.059. (b) A person commits an offense if the person engages in or solicits the transportation of household goods for compensation and is not registered as required by Subchapter B. (c) Except as provided by Subsection (e), an offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor. (d) Expired. (e) An offense under Subsection (b) is a Class C misdemeanor, except that the offense is: (1) a Class B misdemeanor if the person has previously been convicted one time of an offense under Subsection (b); and (2) a Class A misdemeanor if the person has previously been convicted two or more times of an offense under Subsection (b). (f) A peace officer may issue a citation for a violation under this section. (g) As soon as practicable after the date a person is convicted of an offense under Subsection (b), the convicting court shall notify the Department of Public Safety of the conviction. The notice must be in a form prescribed by the Department of Public Safety and must contain the person's driver's license number. (h) A conviction under Subsection (b) shall be recorded in the person's driving record maintained by the Department of Public Safety. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 30.150(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 62, Sec. 17.22(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1034, Sec. 12, 13, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 281 (H.B. 2702), Sec. 6.05, eff. June 14, 2005. Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1046 (H.B. 2094), Sec. 3.12, eff. September 1, 2007. Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 274 (H.B. 1523), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2011. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 769 (H.B. 1505), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2019.