A person may cross certain Texas Department of Transportation roads with an oversized or overweight vehicle only if they contract to indemnify TxDOT and execute an approved surety bond; the commission must also adopt rules for the section.
Sec. 623.051. CONTRACT ALLOWING OVERSIZE OR OVERWEIGHT VEHICLE TO CROSS ROAD; SURETY BOND. (a) A person may operate a vehicle that cannot comply with one or more of the restrictions of Subchapter C of Chapter 621 or Section 621.101 to cross the width of any road or highway under the jurisdiction of the Texas Department of Transportation, other than a controlled access highway as defined by Section 203.001, from private property to other private property if the person contracts with the commission to indemnify the Texas Department of Transportation for the cost of maintenance and repair of the part of the highway crossed by the vehicle. (b) The commission shall adopt rules relating to the forms and procedures to be used under this section and other matters that the commission considers necessary to carry out this section. (c) To protect the safety of the traveling public, minimize any delays and inconveniences to the operators of vehicles in regular operation, and assure payment for the added wear on the highways in proportion to the reduction of service life, the commission, in adopting rules under this section, shall consider: (1) the safety and convenience of the general traveling public; (2) the suitability of the roadway and subgrade on the road or highway to be crossed, variation in soil grade prevalent in the different regions of the state, and the seasonal effects on highway load capacity, the highway shoulder design, and other highway geometrics; and (3) the state's investment in its highway system. (d) Before exercising any right under a contract under this section, a person must execute with a corporate surety authorized to do business in this state a surety bond in an amount determined by the commission to compensate for the cost of maintenance and repairs as provided by this section. The bond must be approved by the Texas Department of Transportation and must be conditioned on the person fulfilling the obligations of the contract. (e) Repealed by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 30.140, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 30.140, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1423, Sec. 18.14, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by: Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1345 (S.B. 1420), Sec. 74, eff. September 1, 2011. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 791 (S.B. 995), Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 2025.