S.B. No. 1495
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to certain criminal offenses related to highways and motor
  vehicles; creating a criminal offense; increasing a criminal
  penalty.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 42.03, Penal Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsections (d), (e), and (f) to
  read as follows:
         (c)  Except as otherwise provided by Subsections (d) and (e),
  an [An] offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor.
         (d)  Subject to Subsection (e), an offense under this section
  is a Class A misdemeanor if it is shown on the trial of the offense
  that, at the time of the offense, the person was operating a motor
  vehicle while engaging in a reckless driving exhibition.
         (e)  An offense under this section is a state jail felony if
  it is shown on the trial of the offense that, at the time of the
  offense, the person was operating a motor vehicle while engaging in
  a reckless driving exhibition, and:
               (1)  the person has previously been convicted of an
  offense punishable under Subsection (d);
               (2)  at the time of the offense, the person was
  operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, as defined by Section
  49.01; or
               (3)  a person suffered bodily injury as a result of the
  offense.
         (f)  For purposes of this section, "reckless driving
  exhibition" means an operator of a motor vehicle, on a highway or
  street and in the presence of two or more persons assembled for the
  purpose of spectating the conduct, intentionally:
               (1)  breaking the traction of the vehicle's rear tires;
               (2)  spinning the vehicle's rear tires continuously by
  pressing the accelerator and increasing the engine speed; and
               (3)  steering the vehicle in a manner designed to
  rotate the vehicle.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter I, Chapter 545, Transportation Code,
  is amended by adding Section 545.4205 to read as follows:
         Sec. 545.4205.  INTERFERENCE WITH PEACE OFFICER
  INVESTIGATION OF HIGHWAY RACING OR RECKLESS DRIVING EXHIBITION;
  CRIMINAL OFFENSE.  (a)  A person commits an offense if the person
  uses the person's body, a car, or a barricade to knowingly impede or
  otherwise interfere with a peace officer's investigation of conduct
  prohibited under Section 545.420 or a reckless driving exhibition,
  as defined by Section 42.03, Penal Code.
         (b)  An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor.
         (c)  If conduct constituting an offense under this section
  also constitutes an offense under any other law, the actor may be
  prosecuted under this section, the other law, or both.
         SECTION 3.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
  an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An
  offense committed before the effective date of this Act is governed
  by the law in effect when the offense was committed, and the former
  law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this
  section, an offense was committed before the effective date of this
  Act if any element of the offense occurred before that date.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1495 passed the Senate on
  April 28, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 26, Nays 5; and that
  the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 30, 2021, by the
  following vote: Yeas 25, Nays 6.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1495 passed the House, with
  amendment, on May 26, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 136,
  Nays 11, one present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor