Vicknair v. State’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

6 state decisions

Most-quoted passages

The sentences later courts lift from this opinion, ranked by how many decisions quote each — the parts of the opinion doing the work. These counts are smaller than the citation total above because most of the 6 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “"Sec. 109. "(a) Every vehicle upon a highway within this State at any time from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise and at any other time when, due to insufficient light or unfavorable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of one thousand (1,000) feet ahead shall display lighted lamps and illuminating devices as hereinafter respectively required for different classes of vehicles, subject to exceptions with respect to parked vehicles, and further that stop lights, turn signals and other signalling devices shall be lighted as prescribed for the use of such devices. "(b) Whenever requirement is hereinafter declared as to distance from which certain lamps and devices shall render objects visible or within which such lamps or devices shall be visible, said provisions shall apply during the times stated in Subsection (a) of this section in respect to a vehicle without load when upon a straight, level, unlighted highway under normal atmospheric conditions unless a different time or condition is expressly stated. [[Image here]] "Sec. 111. "(a) After January 1, 1972, every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer and pole trailer, and any other vehicle which is being drawn at the end of a combination of vehicles, shall be equipped with at least two (2) tail lamps mounted on the rear which when lighted as required in Section 109, shall emit a red light plainly visible from a distance of one thousand (1,000) f”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Vicknair v. State

2. ““Q. And what was that violation? “A. Cracked taillight lens. “Q. And that is a violation of what law? “A. I believe Vernon’s Civil Statutes of Texas Moving Motor Vehicle Laws. “Q. Can you tell me what law that is? “A. The only thing I could say, sir, was to give you the title used for the charge itself on the citation. “Q. What is that? “A. The title would be defective rear lights, cracked taillight lens. “Q. That’s not having a taillight that illuminates a red reflection? “A. Excuse me, sir? “Q. Is that what you’re talking about, not having a taillight that emits something red? “A. What I’m referring to, sir, is a taillight lens that has been cracked to the extent you could observe white light coming through the rear. “Q. That is a violation of the law? “A. Yes. I was instructed by the department and in my training to issue a citation for that particular violation. “Q. And that’s a cracked taillight lens or having a defective taillight? “A. Defective taillight, cracked taillight lens. “Q. Was the red light illuminating from the taillight? “A. I would say yes. There was a red light, but it was a portion of it that had white light as well.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the dissent
   e.g. Vicknair v. State

3. ““Q. What was it about this vehicle that first directed you to it? “A. We observed an equipment violation on that vehicle. “Q. Was this vehicle being driven on a public roadway? “A. Yes. “Q. What was the nature of the equipment violation that you observed? “A. It was a defective taillight with a cracked lens and white light showing to the rear of the vehicle while moving.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Vicknair v. State