A person commits an offense for knowingly cheating on a required motor-vehicle emissions inspection.
Sec. 548.6035. FRAUDULENT EMISSIONS INSPECTION OF MOTOR VEHICLE. (a) A person commits an offense if, in connection with a required emissions inspection of a motor vehicle, the person knowingly: (1) submits information to the department's inspection database stating that a vehicle has passed the applicable inspections or issues a passing vehicle inspection report, if: (A) the vehicle does not meet the emissions requirements established by the department; or (B) the person has not inspected the vehicle; (2) manipulates an emissions test result; (3) uses or causes to be used emissions data from another motor vehicle as a substitute for the motor vehicle being inspected; or (4) bypasses or circumvents a fuel cap test. (b) A first offense under Subsections (a)(1)-(3) is a Class B misdemeanor. (c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), a second or subsequent offense under Subsections (a)(1)-(3) is a Class A misdemeanor. (d) If it is found on trial of an offense under Subsections (a)(1)-(3) that the person committing the offense acted with the intent to defraud or harm another person, the offense is a state jail felony. (e) An offense under Subsection (a)(4) is a Class C misdemeanor. (f) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a)(4) that the analyzer used by the person developed a functional problem during the emissions inspection of the fuel cap that prevented the person from properly conducting the fuel cap test portion of the emissions inspection. Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1202 (S.B. 197), Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2011. Amended by: Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1291 (H.B. 2305), Sec. 46, eff. March 1, 2015.