A person must not ignore warning signs or drive around barricades; violations are offenses with fines or misdemeanor penalties, and some people are exempt.
Sec. 472.022. OBEYING WARNING SIGNS AND BARRICADES. (a) A person commits an offense if the person: (1) disobeys the instructions, signals, warnings, or markings of a warning sign; or (2) drives around a barricade. (b) This section does not apply to: (1) a person who is following the directions of a police officer; or (2) a person, including an employee of the department, a political subdivision of this state, or a contractor or subcontractor, whose duties require the person to go beyond or around a barricade. (c) Each violation of this section is a separate offense. (d) An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $1 or more than $200, except that: (1) if the offense is committed in a construction or maintenance work zone when workers are present and any written notice to appear issued for the offense states on its face that workers were present when the offense was committed, the offense is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $2 or more than $400; or (2) if a person commits an offense under Subsection (a) where a warning sign or barricade has been placed because water is over any portion of a road, street, or highway, the offense is a Class B misdemeanor. (e) In this section: (1) "Barricade" means an obstruction: (A) placed on or across a road, street, or highway of this state by the department, a political subdivision of this state, or a contractor or subcontractor constructing or repairing the road, street, or highway under authorization of the department or a political subdivision of this state; and (B) placed to prevent the passage of motor vehicles over the road, street, or highway during construction, repair, or dangerous conditions. (2) "Construction or maintenance work zone" means a portion of a highway or street: (A) where highway construction or maintenance is being undertaken, other than mobile operations as defined by the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices; and (B) that is marked by signs: (i) indicating that it is a construction or maintenance work zone; (ii) indicating where the zone begins and ends; and (iii) stating: "Fines double when workers present." (3) "Warning sign" means a signal, marking, or device placed on a barricade or on a road, street, or highway during construction, repair, or dangerous conditions by the department, a political subdivision of this state, or a contractor or subcontractor to warn or regulate motor vehicular traffic. The term includes a flagger deployed on a road, street, or highway by the department, a political subdivision of this state, or a contractor or subcontractor to direct traffic around or on the road, street, or highway during construction, repair, or dangerous conditions. (f) Subchapters G and H, Chapter 45A, Code of Criminal Procedure, do not apply to an offense under this section committed in a construction or maintenance work zone when workers are present. Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 674, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 789, Sec. 1, 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 965, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1088, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 19.005, eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 991, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1182, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 576 (H.B. 1481), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005. Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 576 (H.B. 1481), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2005. Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 765 (H.B. 4504), Sec. 2.165, eff. January 1, 2025. SUBCHAPTER D. METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS