(a) The compensation to be paid a county traffic officer shall be set before the officer is employed.
(b) Salary paid to the officer is independent of a salary paid to the sheriff and sheriff’s deputies who do not act as highway officers. Compensation for an officer may not be included in the sheriff’s settlement in accounting for a fee of office or as salary paid to the sheriff or a sheriff’s deputy.
(c) The commissioners court may provide necessary equipment for the officer at the county’s expense. An officer’s equipment may include a motorcycle and maintenance of that motorcycle.