Texas Transportation Code 621.504 – Bridge or Underpass Clearance; Offense
Current as of: 2024 | Check for updates
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(a) A person commits an offense if the person operates or attempts to operate a vehicle over or on a bridge or through an underpass or similar structure unless the height of the vehicle, including load, is less than the vertical clearance of the structure as shown by the records of the Texas Department of Transportation.
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), an offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
Attorney's Note
Under the Texas Codes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class B misdemeanor | up to 180 days | up to $2,000 |
| Class C misdemeanor | up to $500 |
Terms Used In Texas Transportation Code 621.504
- Person: includes corporation, organization, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, and any other legal entity. See Texas Government Code 311.005
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
(c) If it is shown on the trial of an offense under this section that the person was not in compliance with all applicable license and permit requirements for the operation of the vehicle, an offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by:
(1) a fine not to exceed $500;
(2) confinement in county jail for a term not to exceed 30 days; or
(3) both the fine and the confinement.
(d) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution of an offense under this section that at the time of the offense:
(1) the vertical clearance of the structure was less than that posted on the structure;
(2) the vehicle was being operated under the immediate direction of a law enforcement agency; or
(3) the vehicle was being operated in compliance with a permit authorizing the movement of the vehicle issued by the department or a political subdivision of this state.