A municipality or county may exempt certain government vehicles from Section 721.004’s inscription requirement.
Sec. 721.005. EXEMPTION FROM INSCRIPTION REQUIREMENT FOR CERTAIN MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY-OWNED MOTOR VEHICLES. (a) The governing body of a municipality may exempt from the requirements of Section 721.004: (1) an automobile when used to perform an official duty by a: (A) police department; (B) magistrate as defined by Article 2A.151, Code of Criminal Procedure; (C) medical examiner; (D) municipal code enforcement officer designated to enforce environmental criminal laws; or (E) municipal fire marshal or arson investigator; or (2) an automobile used by a municipal employee only when conducting an investigation involving suspected fraud or other mismanagement within the municipality. (b) The commissioners court of a county may exempt from the requirements of Section 721.004: (1) an automobile when used to perform an official duty by a: (A) police department; (B) sheriff's office; (C) constable's office; (D) criminal district attorney's office; (E) district attorney's office; (F) county attorney's office; (G) magistrate as defined by Article 2A.151, Code of Criminal Procedure; (H) county fire marshal's office; or (I) medical examiner; or (2) a juvenile probation department vehicle used to transport children, when used to perform an official duty. (c) An exemption provided under this section does not apply to a contract deputy. Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 355, Sec. 1, eff. May 27, 1997; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 46, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 62, Sec. 17.38, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 66, Sec. 1, eff. May 14, 2001; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 140, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001. Amended by: Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 45 (S.B. 526), Sec. 1, eff. May 8, 2007. Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 765 (H.B. 4504), Sec. 2.179, eff. January 1, 2025.