The commission must set up and run a memorial sign program for victims of alcohol- or controlled-substance-related vehicle collisions, and the department must erect, remove, replace, or release signs under specified conditions.
Sec. 201.909. MEMORIAL SIGN PROGRAM. (a) In this section, "victim" means a person killed in a highway collision involving alcohol or a controlled substance, excluding an operator who was under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance. (b) The commission by rule shall establish and administer a memorial sign program to publicly memorialize the victims of alcohol or controlled substance-related vehicle collisions. (c) A sign designed and posted under this section shall include: (1) the phrase "Please Don't Drink and Drive"; (2) the phrase "In Memory Of" and the name of one or more victims in accordance with the commission rule; and (3) the date of the collision that resulted in the victim's death. (c-1) The sign may include the names of more than one victim so long as the total length of the names does not exceed one line of text. (d) A person may request that a sign be posted under this section by: (1) making an application to the department on a form prescribed by the department; and (2) submitting a fee to the department in an amount determined by the department to help defray the costs of posting the memorial sign. (e) If the application meets the department's requirements and the applicant pays the memorial sign fee, the department shall erect a sign. A sign posted under this section may remain posted for two years. At the end of the two-year period the department may release the sign to the applicant. The department is not required to release a sign that has been damaged. (f) A sign posted under this section that is damaged shall be removed by the department. Except as provided in Subsection (g), the department may post a new sign if it has been less than two years from the posting of the original sign and a person: (1) submits a written request to the department to replace the sign; and (2) submits a replacement fee in the amount provided under Subsection (d)(2). (g) During the two-year posting period the department shall replace a sign posted under this section that is damaged because of the department's negligence. (h) The commission shall adopt rules to implement this section. (i) This section does not authorize the department to remove an existing privately funded memorial that conforms to state law and department rules. A privately funded memorial may remain indefinitely as long as it conforms to state law and department rules. Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 907 (H.B. 2859), Sec. 1, eff. June 15, 2007. Amended by: Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 744 (S.B. 521), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009. Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 971 (H.B. 1486), Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2011. Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 709 (H.B. 2190), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2023.