1. (a) Purpose. Transportation Code, §362.901, requires the commission to adopt rules to allow a military vehicle to use turnpike projects without payment of a toll or fare. This section describes the policies implementing §362.901.
2. (b) General. Except as provided in subsection (h) of this section, the department will allow free use of turnpike projects by military vehicles in convoy and individually. Military vehicles will be allowed free use in all lanes except where it would be unsafe or impractical to do so, such as lanes equipped with automatic coin machines and gates.
3. (c) Electronic toll collection (ETC) lanes. The department prefers that military vehicles use ETC lanes. Military vehicles will not be required to carry transponders or be registered with a toll customer service center in order to obtain free passage.
4. (d) Staffed toll lanes. Military vehicles may use staffed toll lanes. For accounting purposes, individual drivers may be required to sign a log sheet or take other actions as directed by the toll collector. One or more vehicles in a convoy may be required to sign a log sheet or take other actions as directed otherwise by the toll collector.
5. (e) Automatic coin machine (ACM) lanes. ACM lanes are often equipped with traffic control gates and cannot practically accommodate free passage. ETC or staffed lanes should be used instead of ACM lanes. In the event a military vehicle inadvertently enters an ACM lane, toll road staff will attempt, when safe and practical to do so, to raise the gate and allow free passage.
6. (f) Automated enforcement. The department will develop procedures so that military vehicle images recorded by automated violation enforcement systems, if any, will be rejected and violation notices will not be issued.
7. (g) Records. The department may maintain records of free passage of military vehicles on its turnpike projects for audit, reconciliation, and reporting purposes.
8. (h) Exception. To the extent of any inconsistency with the requirements of this subchapter, the provision of free passage for military vehicles on turnpike projects that are governed by a trust agreement or indenture in existence on the effective date of this subchapter shall be governed by the terms of that trust agreement or indenture.

Source Note:The provisions of this §27.81 adopted to be effective February 17, 2005, 30 TexReg 730.