Texas Penal Code 28.07 – Interference With Railroad Property
(a) In this section:
(1) “Railroad property” means:
(A) a train, locomotive, railroad car, caboose, work equipment, rolling stock, safety device, switch, or connection that is owned, leased, operated, or possessed by a railroad; or
(B) a railroad track, rail, bridge, trestle, or right-of-way owned or used by a railroad.
(2) “Tamper” means to move, alter, or interfere with railroad property.
(b) A person commits an offense if the person:
(1) throws an object or discharges a firearm or weapon at a train or rail-mounted work equipment; or
(2) without the effective consent of the owner:
(A) enters or remains on railroad property, knowing that it is railroad property;
(B) tampers with railroad property;
(C) places an obstruction on a railroad track or right-of-way; or
(D) causes in any manner the derailment of a train, railroad car, or other railroad property that moves on tracks.
Attorney's Note
Under the Texas Codes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| State jail felony | between 180 days and 2 years | up to $10,000 |
| Class A misdemeanor | up to 1 year | up to $4,000 |
| Class B misdemeanor | up to 180 days | up to $2,000 |
| Class C misdemeanor | up to $500 |
Terms Used In Texas Penal Code 28.07
- Act: means a bodily movement, whether voluntary or involuntary, and includes speech. See Texas Penal Code 1.07
- Another: means a person other than the actor. See Texas Penal Code 1.07
- Bodily injury: means physical pain, illness, or any impairment of physical condition. See Texas Penal Code 1.07
- Conduct: means an act or omission and its accompanying mental state. See Texas Penal Code 1.07
- Effective consent: includes consent by a person legally authorized to act for the owner. See Texas Penal Code 1.07
- Felony: means an offense so designated by law or punishable by death or confinement in a penitentiary. See Texas Penal Code 1.07
- Misdemeanor: means an offense so designated by law or punishable by fine, by confinement in jail, or by both fine and confinement in jail. See Texas Penal Code 1.07
- Owner: means a person who:
(A) has title to the property, possession of the property, whether lawful or not, or a greater right to possession of the property than the actor; or
(B) is a holder in due course of a negotiable instrument. See Texas Penal Code 1.07 - Person: means an individual or a corporation, association, limited liability company, or other entity or organization governed by the Business Organizations Code. See Texas Penal Code 1.07
- Property: means real and personal property. See Texas Government Code 311.005
(c) An offense under Subsection (b)(1) is a Class B misdemeanor unless the person causes bodily injury to another, in which event the offense is a felony of the third degree.
(d) An offense under Subsection (b)(2)(A) is a Class C misdemeanor.
(e) An offense under Subsection (b)(2)(B), (b)(2)(C), or (b)(2)(D) is a Class C misdemeanor unless the person causes pecuniary loss of $100 or more, in which event the offense is:
(1) a Class B misdemeanor if the amount of pecuniary loss is $100 or more but less than $750;
(2) a Class A misdemeanor if the amount of pecuniary loss is $750 or more but less than $2,500;
(3) a state jail felony if the amount of pecuniary loss is $2,500 or more but less than $30,000;
(4) a felony of the third degree if the amount of the pecuniary loss is $30,000 or more but less than $150,000;
(5) a felony of the second degree if the amount of pecuniary loss is $150,000 or more but less than $300,000; or
(6) a felony of the first degree if the amount of the pecuniary loss is $300,000 or more.
(f) The conduct described in Subsection (b)(2)(A) is not an offense under this section if it is undertaken by an employee of the railroad or by a representative of a labor organization which represents or is seeking to represent the employees of the railroad as long as the employee or representative has a right to engage in such conduct under the Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. § 151 et seq.).