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The following resources have been developed to assist peace officers in gaining a more thorough understanding and application of the Texas Transportation Code. All documents are the property of the Texas Department of Public Safety and may not be modified in any way for distribution or publication without the express prior written consent of the Texas Department of Public Safety.
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THP Field Enforcement Guide
The THP Field Enforcement Guide is a comprehensive guidance and resource document to help officers navigate the offenses described in the Texas Transportation Code. Use the table of contents to locate a specific offense or Control + F to search for keywords. Note: Download and view in a PDF viewer for easier navigation.
The information contained in the Field Enforcement Guide is the property of the Texas Department of Public Safety and may not be modified in any way for distribution or publication without the express prior written consent of the Department.
Document author: Lt. Scott Hewitt, [email protected]
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Want to stay in the loop? Join the Field Enforcement Guide e-mail update list to be notified whenever we update this resource.
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Crash Contributing Factors Guide
This guide addresses each contributing factor that can be assigned on a Texas CR-3 crash report. Information from the CR-100 (Instructions to Police for Reporting Crashes) is incorporated along with discussions over common misconceptions and misapplications of contributing factors. Contains over 200 example diagrams with analysis. Accompanies the 8 hour Contributing Factor course, but can be used as a standalone resource. Note: Download and view in a PDF viewer for easier navigation.
The information contained in the Contributing Factor Guide is the property of the Texas Department of Public Safety and may not be modified in any way for distribution or publication without the express prior written consent of the Department.
Document author: Lt. Scott Hewitt, [email protected]
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Off-Highway Vehicle Guidance for Law Enforcement
This guidance document provides comprehensive information to assist peace officers and the public in managing when, where, and how off-highway vehicles may be operated on public highways in Texas. It is intended to provide clarity on specific enforcement actions in specific scenarios and addresses some of the most ambiguous and commonly encountered illegal uses of off-highway vehicles. Note: Download and view in a PDF viewer for easier navigation.
Document author: Lt. Scott Hewitt, [email protected]
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THP-68 – Guide to Enforcement of the Federal Lighting Standards
This guide describes the adoption of Federal Vehicle Lighting Standards into state law in Texas, including clarification on the path to enforcement and compliance. It contains summary tables describing the current Federal Standards found in 49 C.F.R. 571.108 and also describes requirements for vehicles that are not subject to the Federal Standards (typically year model 1967 and older).
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89th Legislature (2025) New TRC Legislation
Find out what changed in the Transportation Code as a result of the 89th Legislative session (2025). This information will be incorporated into the TCOLE 3189 Legislative update curriculum.
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HB 718 Guidance – Repeal of Temp Tags (Effective 7/1/25)
The Texas Legislature enacted House Bill 718 during the 88th Legislative Session in 2023 to address concerns related to the fraudulent use of paper tags and permits on vehicles. New laws and associated administrative rules from HB 718 will take effect July 1, 2025, including the repeal of most paper tags and the implementation of a new process for issuance of license plates when a vehicle is purchased at a dealership. The attached PDF document contains information and guidance for law enforcement personnel regarding the upcoming changes.
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Small Motorized Vehicles – Quick Reference Guide
What is a motor-assisted scooter and where can it operate? When does a golf cart need a golf cart license plate? Are off-highway vehicles ever permitted on public roads? How do we treat a Segway? This 2-page quick reference guide pulls information from across the Transportation Code to help manage the ins and outs of small motorized vehicles. Page 1 covers off-highway vehicles. Page 2 covers everything else. Legal references provided for deeper reading. Guidance and information current for 88th Legislative session (2023).
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