In certain counties, residents of a special district may petition for county traffic enforcement to extend to district roads, and the commissioners court must order that extension if it finds the request is in the county’s general interest.
Sec. 542.0081. TRAFFIC REGULATIONS: SPECIAL DISTRICT IN CERTAIN COUNTIES. (a) This section applies only to a road owned or maintained by a special district that is located in the unincorporated area of a county with a population of less than one million. (b) The residents of all or any portion of a special district may file a petition with the commissioners court of the county in which the roads are located requesting that county enforcement of traffic rules on county roads be extended to the roads of the district. The petition must: (1) specify the roads over which county enforcement is sought; (2) specify the traffic rules for which county enforcement is sought; and (3) be signed by 50 percent of the property owners residing in the area that is served by the roads of the district over which county enforcement is sought. (c) If the commissioners court finds that granting the request is in the interest of the county generally, the commissioners court shall by order extend the enforcement of traffic rules by the county to the roads of the district specified in the petition. The order may grant enforcement of some or all traffic rules requested in the petition. (d) As a condition of extending a traffic rule under Subsection (c), the commissioners court may require the special district to pay for all or a part of the costs of extending enforcement to the roads of the district. The commissioners court shall consult with the sheriff to determine the cost of extending enforcement. (e) On issuance of an order under this section, the roads specified in the order are considered to be county roads for the purposes of the application and enforcement of the specified traffic rules. The commissioners court may place official traffic control devices on the right-of-way of the roads of the district if those devices relate to the specified traffic rules. Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 812 (H.B. 2541), Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2011. SUBCHAPTER B. UNIFORMITY AND INTERPRETATION OF TRAFFIC LAWS