Texas statute
Tex. Penal Code § 38.151 — Interference with police service animals
Current through 89th Legislature, 2nd Called Session (2025)
Part of Chapter 38: OBSTRUCTING GOVERNMENTAL OPERATION, Texas Penal Code.
Full text of Tex. Penal Code § 38.151
Statutory text current through the 89th Legislature, 2nd Called Session (2025). This publication reproduces the official statutory text; it is not the official statutes of the State of Texas.
(a) In this section: (1) "Area of control" includes a vehicle, trailer, kennel, pen, or yard. (2) "Handler or rider" means a peace officer, corrections officer, or jailer who is specially trained to use a police service animal for law enforcement, corrections, prison or jail security, or investigative purposes. (3) "Police service animal" means a dog, horse, or other domesticated animal that is specially trained for use by a handler or rider. (b) A person commits an offense if the person recklessly: (1) taunts, torments, or strikes a police service animal; (2) throws an object or substance at a police service animal; (3) interferes with or obstructs a police service animal or interferes with or obstructs the handler or rider of a police service animal in a manner that: (A) inhibits or restricts the handler's or rider's control of the animal; or (B) deprives the handler or rider of control of the animal; (4) releases a police service animal from its area of control; (5) enters the area of control of a police service animal without the effective consent of the handler or rider, including placing food or any other object or substance into that area; (6) injures or kills a police service animal; or (7) engages in conduct likely to injure or kill a police service animal, including administering or setting a poison, trap, or any other object or substance. (c) An offense under this section is: (1) a Class C misdemeanor if the person commits an offense under Subsection (b)(1); (2) a Class B misdemeanor if the person commits an offense under Subsection (b)(2); (3) a Class A misdemeanor if the person commits an offense under Subsection (b)(3), (4), or (5); (4) except as provided by Subdivision (5), a state jail felony if the person commits an offense under Subsection (b)(6) or (7) by injuring a police service animal or by engaging in conduct likely to injure the animal; or (5) a felony of the second degree if the person commits an offense under Subsection (b)(6) or (7) by: (A) killing a police service animal or engaging in conduct likely to kill the animal; (B) injuring a police service animal in a manner that materially and permanently affects the ability of the animal to perform as a police service animal; or (C) engaging in conduct likely to injure a police service animal in a manner that would materially and permanently affect the ability of the animal to perform as a police service animal.
Official sources
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