Texas § 42.13 USE OF LASER POINTERS.

Texas Statutes

§ 42.13 — USE OF LASER POINTERS.

Texas § 42.13

Code PEPenal Code

This text of Texas § 42.13 (USE OF LASER POINTERS.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Tex. Penal Code Code Ann. § 42.13 (2026).

Text

Sec. 42.13. USE OF LASER POINTERS.

(a)A person commits an offense if the person knowingly directs a light from a laser pointer at a uniformed safety officer, including a peace officer, security guard, firefighter, emergency medical service worker, or other uniformed municipal, state, or federal officer.

(b)In this section, "laser pointer" means a device that emits a visible light amplified by the stimulated emission of radiation.

(c)An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor, except that the offense is:

(1)a felony of the third degree if the conduct causes bodily injury to the officer; or

(2)a felony of the first degree if the conduct causes serious bodily injury to the officer.

(d)If conduct that constitutes an offense under this section also constitutes an offense under

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Sec. 42.13. USE OF LASER POINTERS. (a) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly directs a light from a laser pointer at a uniformed safety officer, including a peace officer, security guard, firefighter, emergency medical service worker, or other uniformed municipal, state, or federal officer.
(b) In this section, "laser pointer" means a device that emits a visible light amplified by the stimulated emission of radiation.
(c) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor, except that the offense is:
(1) a felony of the third degree if the conduct causes bodily injury to the officer; or
(2) a felony of the first degree if the conduct causes serious bodily injury to the officer.
(d) If conduct that constitutes an offense under this section also constitutes an offense under any other law, the actor may be prosecuted under this section or the other law, but not both.

Legislative History

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 467, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 200 (H.B. 2366 ), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2021.