Tex. Transp. Code § 545.420 · Subchapter I. MISCELLANEOUS RULES
RACING ON HIGHWAY; IMPOUNDMENT OF A VEHICLE.
Text — Current through the 89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025
(a) A person may not participate in any manner in:
(1) a race;
(2) a vehicle speed competition or contest;
(3) a drag race or acceleration contest;
(4) a test of physical endurance of the operator of a vehicle; or
(5) in connection with a drag race, an exhibition of vehicle speed or acceleration or to make a vehicle speed record.
(b) In this section:
(1) "Drag race" means the operation of:
(A) two or more vehicles from a point side by side at accelerating speeds in a competitive attempt to outdistance each other; or
(B) one or more vehicles over a common selected course, from the same place to the same place, for the purpose of comparing the relative speeds or power of acceleration of the vehicle or vehicles in a specified distance or time.
(2) "Race" means the use of one or more vehicles in an attempt to:
(A) outgain or outdistance another vehicle or prevent another vehicle from passing;
(B) arrive at a given destination ahead of another vehicle or vehicles; or
(C) test the physical stamina or endurance of an operator over a long-distance driving route.
(c) [Blank]
(d) Except as provided by Subsections (e)-(h), an offense under Subsection (a) is a Class B misdemeanor.
(e) An offense under Subsection (a) is a Class A misdemeanor if it is shown on the trial of the offense that:
(1) the person has previously been convicted one time of an offense under that subsection; or
(2) the person, at the time of the offense:
(A) was operating the vehicle while intoxicated, as defined by Section 49.01, Penal Code; or
(B) was in possession of an open container, as defined by Section 49.031, Penal Code.
(f) An offense under Subsection (a) is a state jail felony if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the person has previously been convicted two times of an offense under that subsection.
(g) An offense under Subsection (a) is a felony of the third degree if it is shown on the trial of the offense that as a result of the offense, an individual suffered bodily injury.
(h) An offense under Subsection (a) is a felony of the second degree if it is shown on the trial of the offense that as a result of the offense, an individual suffered serious bodily injury or death.
(i) A peace officer shall require a vehicle used in the commission of an offense under Subsection (a) or an offense punishable under Section 42.03(d) or (e), Penal Code, to be taken to the nearest licensed vehicle storage facility unless the vehicle is seized as evidence, in which case the vehicle may be taken to a storage facility as designated by the peace officer involved. Notwithstanding Article 18.23, Code of Criminal Procedure, the owner of a vehicle that is removed or stored under this subsection is liable for all removal and storage fees incurred and is not entitled to take possession of the vehicle until those fees are paid.
Notes and commentary — not statutory text
History
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 535, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Amended by:
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1258 (H.B. 548), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 329 (H.B. 2899), Sec. 1, eff. June 2, 2023.
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 329 (H.B. 2899), Sec. 2, eff. June 2, 2023.
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 709 (H.B. 2190), Sec. 36, 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.545.htm
- Text hash
- sha256 0ff5c2fef19a77c81009f6d291dd693db8fb2f5b46121c1f23e3ffcf6493232b
- 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
Cited by 5 provisions
Provisions in this library whose text cites Tex. Transp. Code § 545.420. Each shows the citation as that text prints it.
Code of Criminal Procedure
Education Code
Transportation Code
- Tex. Transp. Code § 521.350SUSPENSION FOR OFFENSE RELATING TO RACING OF MOTOR VEHICLE ON PUBLIC HIGHWAY OR STREET.Printed as Section 545.420(a)
- Tex. Transp. Code § 545.4205INTERFERENCE WITH PEACE OFFICER INVESTIGATION OF HIGHWAY RACING OR RECKLESS DRIVING EXHIBITION; CRIMINAL OFFENSE.Printed as Section 545.420
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.