{"data":{"id":"us-tx/tex.-utilities-code-186.042","jurisdiction":"us-tx","citation":"Tex. Utilities Code § 186.042","heading":"OBSTRUCTION OF EMERGENCY TELEPHONE CALL; PENALTY.","body":"(a) A person commits an offense if:\n(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\n(2) the party line is needed for an emergency call:\n(A) to a fire or police department; or\n(B) for medical aid or an ambulance service.\n(b) An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by:\n(1) a fine of not less than $25 and not more than $500;\n(2) confinement in the county jail for not more than one month; or\n(3) both fine and confinement.\nActs 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.","path":["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"],"source_url":"https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/UT/htm/UT.186.htm#186.042","current_through":"89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T01:47:45Z","sha256":"ee9b696e4d43951598797044e9f05807f3146c1d0f82e89c57c0a426db0c961e","source_id":"us-tx","stale":false,"prev":"us-tx/tex.-utilities-code-186.041","next":"us-tx/tex.-utilities-code-186.043"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}