{"data":{"id":"us-tx/tex.-government-code-423.0046","jurisdiction":"us-tx","citation":"Tex. Government Code § 423.0046","heading":"OFFENSE: OPERATION OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT OVER SPORTS VENUE.","body":"(a) In this section, \"sports venue\" means an arena, automobile racetrack, coliseum, stadium, or other type of area or facility that:\n(1) has a seating capacity of 30,000 or more people; and\n(2) is primarily used for one or more professional or amateur sports or athletics events.\n(b) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally or knowingly operates an unmanned aircraft over a sports venue and the unmanned aircraft is not higher than 400 feet above ground level.\n(c) This section does not apply to conduct described by Subsection (b) that is committed by:\n(1) the federal government, the state, or a governmental entity;\n(2) a person under contract with or otherwise acting under the direction or on behalf of the federal government, the state, or a governmental entity;\n(3) a law enforcement agency;\n(4) a person under contract with or otherwise acting under the direction or on behalf of a law enforcement agency;\n(5) an operator of an unmanned aircraft that is being used for a commercial purpose, if the operation is conducted in compliance with:\n(A) each applicable Federal Aviation Administration rule, restriction, or exemption; and\n(B) all required Federal Aviation Administration authorizations;\n(6) an owner or operator of the sports venue;\n(7) a person under contract with or otherwise acting under the direction or on behalf of an owner or operator of the sports venue; or\n(8) a person who has the prior written consent of the owner or operator of the sports venue.\n(d) An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor, except that the offense is a Class A misdemeanor if the actor has previously been convicted under this section or Section 423.0045.\nAdded by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1010 (H.B. 1424), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2017.","path":["GOVERNMENT CODE","TITLE 4. EXECUTIVE BRANCH","SUBTITLE B. LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC PROTECTION","CHAPTER 423. USE OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT"],"source_url":"https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/GV/htm/GV.423.htm#423.0046","current_through":"89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T01:47:16Z","sha256":"d87eb1191f2981ae465bcbb5e089d234bc577f11b3b10a160876c6ba6dd2c5da","source_id":"us-tx","stale":false,"prev":"us-tx/tex.-government-code-423.0045","next":"us-tx/tex.-government-code-423.005"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}