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

Tex. Utilities Code § 186.042: OBSTRUCTION OF EMERGENCY TELEPHONE CALL; PENALTY.

Where this section sits in the code

UTILITIES CODE
TITLE 4. DELIVERY OF UTILITY SERVICES
SUBTITLE B. PROVISIONS REGULATING DELIVERY OF SERVICES
CHAPTER 186. PROVISIONS TO ENSURE THE RELIABILITY AND INTEGRITY OF UTILITY SERVICE
SUBCHAPTER D. AVAILABILITY OF EMERGENCY TELEPHONE SERVICE

(a) A person commits an offense if:

(1) the person wilfully refuses to relinquish a party line immediately on being informed that the line is needed for an emergency call described by Subdivision (2); and

(2) the party line is needed for an emergency call:

(A) to a fire or police department; or

(B) for medical aid or an ambulance service.

(b) An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by:

(1) a fine of not less than $25 and not more than $500;

(2) confinement in the county jail for not more than one month; or

(3) both fine and confinement.

Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.

Collected 2026-08-27T01:47:45Z. Source file · JSON

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