This section sets criminal penalties for violating specified Parks and Wildlife Code provisions and related orders, with fines or misdemeanor/felony classifications depending on the violation.
Sec. 31.127. PENALTIES AND FINES. (a) A person who violates or fails to comply with any provision of this chapter, or who violates or fails to comply with a proclamation of the commission entered under this chapter or a city ordinance or order of a commissioners court or a political subdivision of the state made or entered under this chapter, commits an offense that is a Class C Parks and Wildlife Code misdemeanor. (b) A person who violates Section 31.043(c) or 31.096 commits an offense that is a Class B Parks and Wildlife Code misdemeanor. A person who violates Section 31.043(c-1) commits an offense that is a Class A Parks and Wildlife Code misdemeanor. (c) Except as provided by Subsection (f), a person who operates a vessel in violation of Section 31.021(b) or 31.095 commits an offense punishable by a fine of not less than $100 or more than $500. (d) The operator of a vessel who is involved in a collision, accident, or other casualty that results in death or serious bodily injury to another person and fails to comply with Section 31.104 commits an offense that is a Parks and Wildlife Code felony. (e) Except as provided by Subsection (d), the operator of a vessel who is involved in a collision, accident, or other casualty and fails to comply with Section 31.104 commits an offense that is a Class A Parks and Wildlife Code misdemeanor. (f) A court may dismiss a charge of operating a vessel with an expired certificate of number under Section 31.021 if: (1) the defendant remedies the defect not later than the 10th working day after the date of the offense and pays a reimbursement fee not to exceed $10; and (2) the certificate of number has not been expired for more than 60 days. (g) A person who operates a motorboat in violation of Section 31.1071 commits an offense punishable by a fine of not more than $200. Acts 1975, 64th Leg., p. 1405, ch. 545, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1975. Amended by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 267, art. 3, Sec. 12, eff. Sept. 1, 1985; Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 185, Sec. 2, eff. July 1, 1989; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1363, Sec. 9, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 200, Sec. 8(m), eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1133, Sec. 13, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1027 (H.B. 1623), Sec. 12, eff. September 1, 2007. Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 695 (H.B. 384), Sec. 3, eff. June 17, 2011. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1030 (H.B. 337), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2019. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1352 (S.B. 346), Sec. 2.55, eff. January 1, 2020. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1352 (S.B. 346), Sec. 2.56, eff. January 1, 2020. Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 919 (S.B. 1923), Sec. 9, eff. September 1, 2021.