Jeff Wentworth

Texas drivers who put the “pedal to the metal” could be speeding toward a traffic ticket with a hefty fine and no opportunity to take a driving safety class to dismiss the citation.

Beginning Sept. 1, drivers found guilty of speeds higher than 95 miles per hour will not be allowed to take a defensive driving course to keep the ticket off their driving record. 

Motorists also should be aware that current law does not allow those found guilty of driving more than 25 miles per hour over any posted speed limit to get the ticket dismissed by taking a driving safety class.

House Bill 586 is one of several new statutes that will soon take effect that could impact your driving habits, and ultimately, your driving record.

Currently, a driver with a learner’s permit is authorized to operate a motor vehicle while accompanied by a licensed driver 21 years of age or older; however, nothing prohibits the accompanying licensed passenger from sleeping, being inattentive or even drunk while the driver with a learner’s permit operates the vehicle.

I authored Senate Bill 153, which makes it an offense for the accompanying licensed passenger of a driver with learner’s permit to sleep, be intoxicated, or to engage in any activity that prevents the passenger from observing and responding to the actions of the vehicle’s driver.

House Bill 84 generated calls from older drivers worried about losing their driver licenses, which they associate with losing their independence.  I understand their concerns; however, drivers who no longer see well are a danger to themselves and others.  This bill requires drivers age 85 or older to take a vision test every two years and prohibits drivers 79 years of age and older from renewing their driver licenses electronically.

In 2003, the Legislature passed a bill that prevented motorists from obscuring their license plates in order to prevent toll enforcement cameras from reading their plates. 

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals recently ruled that a motorist is in violation of the law if any part of the license plate is obscured, resulting in many law-abiding drivers being pulled over and ticketed.                      

Senate Bill 369 clarifies that a driver is not in violation of the law if the license plate frame or material covers less than one-half of the state name and does not alter or obscure the plate’s letters or numbers.

Like House Bill 586, all of these bills become effective Sept. 1, and, contrary to many rumors, we did not pass any bills that would limit the use of cell phones or require the use of a hands-free device while using a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle – although I believe we should have.

Texas State Sen. Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio) represents District 25, which includes part of Bexar County. He can be reached via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .