Texas House Bill 2774 was aimed at penalizing tire shops and businesses that knowingly install unsafe used tires on motor vehicles.
Of note, the reinstallation of poor condition used tires onto the same vehicle was written in as an exception. In other words, if tires in the described condition were taken off of a vehicle then reinstalled on the same, no problem.
So the Bill was aimed specifically at ending the installation of unsafe used tires onto "new" vehicles. The punishment? A misdemeanor resulting in a fine of $100-$500.
Is this yet another example of America not "getting it" on the subject tires? We think so.
In Europe, private motorists face fines and penalties for operating a motor vehicle with inadequate tread, or otherwise unsafe tires. In the U.S., not even the shops who knowingly install such tires are subject to penalty.
To be fair to the shops, our research indicates that they are responding to significant consumer demand. U.S. online search data reveals that searches for "cheap tires" far outnumber searches having to do with tire quality, performance, or safety.
The Governor's veto comes despite the fact that worn/unsafe/degraded tires are the documented leading "mechanical" cause of accidents in the U.S.
A three year study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that when the "critical pre-crash event" was vehicle related, tires (and wheels) were to blame 43.3% of the time.
Roadway laws, and the accordant penalties are aimed at increasing overall safety and protecting motorists. It's hard to reconcile all of those laws, and the veto of a bill that would have illegalized wittingly making roadways definitively more hazardous.
*Speeding 1-5 mph over the limit is a Class C misdemeanor in Texas, punishable by a fine of ~$165.