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Texas · Through 89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025

Tex. Penal Code § 42.13: USE OF LASER POINTERS.

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Where this section sits in the code
  1. PENAL CODE
  2. TITLE 9. OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND DECENCY
  3. CHAPTER 42. DISORDERLY CONDUCT AND RELATED OFFENSES

(a) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly directs a light from a laser pointer at a uniformed safety officer, including a peace officer, security guard, firefighter, emergency medical service worker, or other uniformed municipal, state, or federal officer.

(b) In this section, "laser pointer" means a device that emits a visible light amplified by the stimulated emission of radiation.

(c) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor, except that the offense is:

(1) a felony of the third degree if the conduct causes bodily injury to the officer; or

(2) a felony of the first degree if the conduct causes serious bodily injury to the officer.

(d) If conduct that constitutes an offense under this section also constitutes an offense under any other law, the actor may be prosecuted under this section or the other law, but not both.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 467, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Amended by:

Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 200 (H.B. 2366), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2021.

Collected 2026-08-27T01:47:34Z. Source file · JSON

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