Tex. Transp. Code § 521.246 · Subchapter L. OCCUPATIONAL DRIVER'S LICENSE
IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE REQUIREMENT.
Text — Current through the 89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025
(a) Subject to Subsection (b-1), the judge shall restrict the person to the operation of a motor vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device if:
(1) the person is currently under an order restricting the person to the operation of a motor vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device, including an order imposed as a condition of bond; or
(2) the person's license has been suspended, revoked, or canceled after a conviction for an offense under Sections 49.04-49.08, Penal Code.
(b) On a finding of good cause, the judge may restrict the person to the operation of a motor vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device in a case not described by Subsection (a).
(b-1) The court may waive the ignition interlock device requirement under Subsection (a) if the court finds the requirement is not necessary for the safety of the community and the waiver is in the best interest of justice.
(c) The person shall obtain the ignition interlock device at the person's own expense unless the court finds that to do so is not in the best interest of justice and enters that finding in the record. If the court determines that the person is unable to pay for the device, the court may impose a reasonable payment schedule for a term not to exceed twice the period of the court's order.
(d) The court shall order the ignition interlock device to remain installed for the duration of the period of suspension, unless the court finds:
(1) good cause for the removal of the device; and
(2) the device is not necessary for the safety of the community.
(e) A person to whom this section applies may operate a motor vehicle without the installation of an approved ignition interlock device if:
(1) the person is required to operate a motor vehicle in the course and scope of the person's employment;
(2) the vehicle is owned by the person's employer;
(3) the employer is not owned or controlled by the person whose driving privilege is restricted;
(4) the employer is notified of the driving privilege restriction; and
(5) proof of that notification is with the vehicle.
Notes and commentary — not statutory text
History
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 30.84(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1105, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Amended by:
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1067 (H.B. 2246), Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2015.
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 386 (H.B. 291), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2023.
Source of truth
- Edition
- Current through the 89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025
- Official file
- https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.521.htm
- Text hash
- sha256 f7eeeeca454609ad1445c4da32c3117077c313efb203a3af9a2d59bccdf69430
- 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.
Cited by 2 provisions
Provisions in this library whose text cites Tex. Transp. Code § 521.246. 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.