Tex. Health & Safety Code § 773.017 · Subchapter A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
USE OF CERTAIN EXTERNAL MOTOR VEHICLE MARKINGS OR FEATURES PROHIBITED; CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
Text — Current through the 89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025
(a) A person may not operate a motor vehicle in this state that resembles an emergency medical services vehicle unless the person uses the motor vehicle:
(1) as an emergency medical services vehicle under this chapter; or
(2) for other legitimate governmental functions, including police or firefighting services.
(b) A motor vehicle resembles an emergency medical services vehicle if the motor vehicle has on the exterior of the motor vehicle any of the following markings or features:
(1) the word "ambulance" or a derivation of that word;
(2) a star of life as trademarked by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration;
(3) a Maltese cross commonly used by fire departments;
(4) forward-facing flashing red, white, or blue lights;
(5) a siren;
(6) the words "critical care transport," "emergency," "emergency medical services," or "mobile intensive care unit"; or
(7) the acronym "EMS" or "MICU".
(c) A person commits an offense if the person violates this section. An offense under this subsection is a Class C misdemeanor.
(d) This section does not apply to a motor vehicle bearing a license plate issued or approved under Section 504.501 or 504.502, Transportation Code.
Notes and commentary — not statutory text
History
Added by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 253 (H.B. 1249), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2017.
Source of truth
- Edition
- Current through the 89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025
- Official file
- https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/HS/htm/HS.773.htm
- Text hash
- sha256 dfaf5b41f12aaef0edd2917de0625703acc31ec35e3d1fd3a9cce3943b2fbac7
- 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
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