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

Tex. Water Code § 49.217: OPERATION OF CERTAIN MOTOR VEHICLES ON OR NEAR PUBLIC FACILITIES.

(a) In this section, "motor vehicle" means a self-propelled device in, upon, or by which a person or property is or may be transported or drawn on a road or highway.
(b) Except as provided in Subsections (c) and (d), a person may not operate a motor vehicle on a levee, in a drainage ditch, or on land adjacent to a levee, canal, ditch, exposed conduit, pipeline, pumping plant, storm water facility, or other facility for the transmission, storage, treatment, or distribution of water, sewage, or storm water owned or controlled by a district.
(c) A district may authorize the use of motor vehicles on land that it owns or controls by posting signs on the property.
(d) This section does not prohibit a person from:
(1) driving on a public road or highway; or
(2) operating a motor vehicle used for repair or maintenance of public water, sewer, or storm water facilities.
(e) A person who operates a motor vehicle in violation of Subsection (b) commits an offense. An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor, except that if a person has been convicted of an offense under this section, a subsequent offense is a Class B misdemeanor.
Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 715, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Where this section sits in the code

WATER CODE
TITLE 4. GENERAL LAW DISTRICTS
CHAPTER 49. PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL DISTRICTS
SUBCHAPTER H. POWERS AND DUTIES

(a) In this section, "motor vehicle" means a self-propelled device in, upon, or by which a person or property is or may be transported or drawn on a road or highway.

(b) Except as provided in Subsections (c) and (d), a person may not operate a motor vehicle on a levee, in a drainage ditch, or on land adjacent to a levee, canal, ditch, exposed conduit, pipeline, pumping plant, storm water facility, or other facility for the transmission, storage, treatment, or distribution of water, sewage, or storm water owned or controlled by a district.

(c) A district may authorize the use of motor vehicles on land that it owns or controls by posting signs on the property.

(d) This section does not prohibit a person from:

(1) driving on a public road or highway; or

(2) operating a motor vehicle used for repair or maintenance of public water, sewer, or storm water facilities.

(e) A person who operates a motor vehicle in violation of Subsection (b) commits an offense. An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor, except that if a person has been convicted of an offense under this section, a subsequent offense is a Class B misdemeanor.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 715, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Collected 2026-08-27T01:47:48Z. Source file · JSON

Browse this collection