(a) The owner of a vehicle used exclusively to transport solid waste with a tandem axle load heavier than 34,000 pounds shall before operating the vehicle on a public highway of this state file with the department a surety bond subject to the approval of the Texas Department of Transportation in the principal amount set by the Texas Department of Transportation not to exceed $15,000 for each vehicle.
(b) The bond must be conditioned that the owner of the vehicle will pay to the Texas Department of Transportation and to any municipality in which the vehicle is operated on a municipal street, within the limit of the bond, any damages to a highway or municipal street caused by the operation of the vehicle.

(c) This section does not apply to a vehicle owned by a municipality.
(d) A copy of the bond shall be:
(1) carried on the vehicle when the vehicle is on a public highway; and
(2) presented to an officer authorized to enforce this chapter on request of the officer.