Relating to the criminal offense of passing certain vehicles on a highway.

Contracts

• Subcontractor MSAs: Update Master Service Agreements for independent owner-operators and logistics providers. Insert a clause requiring adherence to the amended Transportation Code § 545.157. Indemnification clauses should be reviewed to ensure they cover fines/legal costs resulting from "Move Over" violations.
• Municipal Service Contracts: If your business contracts with local governments for animal carcass removal or parking enforcement, review equipment provisions. To claim statutory protection, your vehicles must be equipped with compliant visual signals. Non-compliant vehicles will not be afforded "protected status" under this law.

Hiring/Training

• Curriculum Update: Revise CDL and non-CDL defensive driving modules immediately. Drivers are conditioned to react to red/blue (police) and amber (tow/construction) lights. They must now be trained to yield to any vehicle displaying flashing lights on the roadside, regardless of color or vehicle type.
• Policy Acknowledgment: Issue a mandatory Safety Bulletin by August 2025. Require a digital signature from every driver acknowledging they understand the expanded "Move Over" requirements.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

• Accident Investigation Forms: Update internal crash report forms. Add a specific field to identify if the other vehicle was a "stationary protected vehicle" (animal control/parking enforcement). This data is critical for early liability assessment by legal counsel.
• Training Logs: Maintain auditable records of the specific training update. In the event of a catastrophic accident, these logs are your primary defense against claims of negligent entrustment or training.

Fees & Costs

• Fines: Standard misdemeanor fines ($200–$500), escalating to $500+ and potential jail time if bodily injury occurs.
• Insurance: Convictions are moving violations. A pattern of these violations across a fleet will negatively impact commercial auto insurance experience modifiers.