The creation of a criminal offense for operating a motor vehicle under certain circumstances causing a tire of the vehicle to spin, lose traction, or leave the surface of a highway

Texas Senate Bill 2017 (SB2017) aimed to create a new criminal offense targeting specific reckless driving behaviors. The bill proposed making it illegal for drivers to intentionally cause their vehicle's tires to spin, lose traction, or leave the road surface. This includes actions like burnouts and wheelies. Violating this law would have been classified as a Class C misdemeanor. The bill was introduced by Senator Paul Bettencourt and was part of efforts to address unsafe driving practices not covered by existing laws. However, the bill did not pass; it failed to receive an affirmative vote in the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee on May 22, 2025.

Supporters of SB2017 argued that the bill would enhance road safety by specifically targeting reckless driving behaviors such as burnouts and wheelies, which were not adequately addressed under existing laws. They believed that creating a specific offense for these actions would provide law enforcement with clearer authority to deter and penalize such dangerous driving practices.

Opponents of SB2017 raised concerns about the potential for over-policing and the subjective nature of determining intentional tire spinning or loss of traction. They feared that the bill could lead to disproportionate enforcement and unintended consequences for drivers, especially in situations where tire spinning might occur unintentionally due to road conditions or vehicle performance issues.