Sales agents and their employees commit an offense if they negligently sell or offer tickets to someone they know is under 18. Under-18 individuals also commit an offense if they buy a ticket or lie about their age to do so. Adults 18 or older may buy a ticket as a gift for someone else.
Sec. 466.3051. SALE OF TICKET TO OR PURCHASE OF TICKET BY PERSON YOUNGER THAN 18 YEARS OF AGE. (a) A sales agent or an employee of a sales agent commits an offense if with criminal negligence the person sells or offers to sell a ticket to an individual that the person knows is younger than 18 years of age. (b) An individual who is younger than 18 years of age commits an offense if the individual: (1) purchases a ticket; or (2) falsely represents the individual to be 18 years of age or older by displaying evidence of age that is false or fraudulent or misrepresents in any way the individual's age in order to purchase a ticket. (c) A person 18 years of age or older may purchase a ticket to give as a gift to another person, including an individual younger than 18 years of age. (d) It is a defense to the application of Subsection (b) that the individual younger than 18 years of age is participating in an inspection or investigation on behalf of the department or other appropriate governmental entity regarding compliance with this section. (e) An offense under Subsection (a) is a Class C misdemeanor. (f) An offense under Subsection (b) is punishable by a fine not to exceed $250. (g) The commission or department may not take any disciplinary action against a sales agent to whom Subsection (a) applies if: (1) the sales agent's employee electronically accessed the electronically readable information on the ticket purchaser's driver's license, commercial driver's license, or personal identification certificate; and (2) the transaction scan device used to electronically access the purchaser's electronically readable information identified the license or certificate as valid and the purchaser as 18 years of age or older on the purchase date. Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 107 (H.B. 947), Sec. 4.03(b), eff. August 30, 1993. Renumbered from Sec. 466.253 and amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 6.31, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by: Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 696, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1160 (S.B. 3070), Sec. 34, eff. June 20, 2025.