Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 59.03 · Chapter 59. FORFEITURE OF CONTRABAND
SEIZURE OF CONTRABAND.
Text — Current through the 89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025
(a) Property subject to forfeiture under this chapter, other than property described by Article 59.12, may be seized by any peace officer under authority of a search warrant.
(b) Seizure of property subject to forfeiture may be made without warrant if:
(1) the owner, operator, or agent in charge of the property knowingly consents;
(2) the seizure is incident to a search to which the owner, operator, or agent in charge of the property knowingly consents;
(3) the property subject to seizure has been the subject of a prior judgment in favor of the state in a forfeiture proceeding under this chapter; or
(4) the seizure was incident to a lawful arrest, lawful search, or lawful search incident to arrest.
(c) A peace officer who seizes property under this chapter has custody of the property, subject only to replevy under Article 59.02 or an order of a court. A peace officer who has custody of property shall provide the attorney representing the state with a sworn statement that contains a schedule of the property seized, an acknowledgment that the officer has seized the property, and a list of the officer's reasons for the seizure. Not later than 72 hours after the seizure:
(1) the peace officer shall:
(A) place the property under seal;
(B) remove the property to a place ordered by the court; or
(C) require a law enforcement agency of the state or a political subdivision to take custody of the property and move it to a proper location; or
(2) if the property seized is a digital currency, non-fungible token, or stablecoin, the law enforcement agency employing the peace officer shall transfer the property to a wallet that is:
(A) not connected to an exchange or network; and
(B) only accessible by the law enforcement agency or the attorney representing the state.
(d) A person in the possession of property at the time a peace officer seizes the property under this chapter may at the time of seizure assert the person's interest in or right to the property. A peace officer, including the peace officer who seizes the property, may not request, require, or in any manner induce any person, including a person who asserts an interest in or right to the property, to execute a document purporting to waive the person's interest in or rights to property seized under this chapter.
(e) At any time before notice is filed under Article 59.04(b), an attorney representing the state may not request, require, or in any manner induce any person, including a person who asserts an interest in or right to property seized under this chapter, to execute a document purporting to waive the person's interest in or rights to the property.
Notes and commentary — not statutory text
History
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., 1st C.S., ch. 12, Sec. 1, eff. Oct. 18, 1989. Subsec. (a) amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 438, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Subsec. (d) added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 929, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Amended by:
Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1321 (S.B. 316), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2011.
Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1063 (S.B. 1498), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2025.
Source of truth
- Edition
- Current through the 89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025
- Official file
- https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/htm/CR.59.htm
- Text hash
- sha256 f9de49e03dffa2dcd3a48835139227ab69a2b9f7bbbd32561a092faa4afd28bc
- Composed by
- compose_tx.py 2026-10-05: the Legislative Council's chapter files read in document order; verify_tx.py's independent reading (lxml DOM walk) agrees character for character
This section cites
Provisions in this library that the text above cites, as it prints each citation. A range cited as “ss. 61.13-61.16” links its first and last provisions.
Code of Criminal Procedure
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 59.02FORFEITURE OF CONTRABAND.Printed as Article 59.02
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 59.04NOTIFICATION OF FORFEITURE PROCEEDING.Printed as Article 59.04(b)
- Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 59.12SEIZURE OF ACCOUNTS AND ASSETS AT REGULATED FINANCIAL INSTITUTION.Printed as Article 59.12
Cited by 2 provisions
Provisions in this library whose text cites Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 59.03. Each shows the citation as that text prints it.
Procedural information only. Not legal advice and not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Confirm the current text with the official publisher before relying on it.