FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) _ Want to catch a catfish by hand or shoot a feral hog from a helicopter? Want to keep driving the daytime speed limit after the sun goes down?
You can do so legally in Texas starting Thursday, when about 700 new state laws take effect.
Those are about half the bills passed by state lawmakers in Austin during the regular legislative session and a 30-day special session. Some have already become laws, and others will take effect by the first of 2012.
Drivers in Texas will no longer have to slow down to 65 mph at night on most highways but can keep driving the daytime speed limit of 70 mph. The Texas Department of Transportation says the old signs are to be removed by year’s end.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)