{"data":{"id":"us-tx/tex.-health-and-safety-code-791.052","jurisdiction":"us-tx","citation":"Tex. Health and Safety Code § 791.052","heading":"CRIMINAL PENALTY.","body":"(a) A person commits an offense if the person obstructs a fire escape or a hallway or entrance leading to a fire escape in a manner that prevents free access to or use of the fire escape. A door equipped with a lock requiring a key to operate is an obstruction.\n(b) A person commits an offense if the person is the owner of a building required to be equipped with fire escapes and the person fails or refuses to comply with this chapter.\n(c) A person commits an offense if the person serves as an agent in the care, management, supervision, control, or renting of a building for an owner who is not a resident of this state and the owner fails or refuses to comply with this chapter as it applies to that building.\n(d) An offense under this section is punishable by a fine of not less than $20 or more than $50. If the defendant is a corporation, each officer or member of the board of directors of the corporation is subject to the fine.\n(e) Each day's failure or refusal to comply constitutes a separate offense. Each day that an agent represents a nonresident owner who is not in compliance constitutes a separate offense.\nActs 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.","path":["HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE","TITLE 9. SAFETY","SUBTITLE C. FIRE","CHAPTER 791. FIRE ESCAPES","SUBCHAPTER E. ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTY PROVISIONS"],"source_url":"https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/HS/htm/HS.791.htm#791.052","current_through":"89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T01:47:17Z","sha256":"eb8f734591b8b546390cb12af5c3c5851f71b6b261220de762496c1169cf324f","source_id":"us-tx","stale":false,"prev":"us-tx/tex.-health-and-safety-code-791.051","next":"us-tx/tex.-health-and-safety-code-792.001"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}