(a) In this section:
(1) “Autonomous drone” means a drone that operates autonomously through computer software or other programming.
(2) “Drone” and “law enforcement agency” have the meanings assigned by Article 2.33, Code of Criminal Procedure.
(b) Notwithstanding any other law, the use of force, including deadly force, involving a drone is justified under this subchapter only if:
(1) at the time the use of force occurred, the actor was employed by a law enforcement agency;
(2) the use of force:
(A) would have been justified under another provision of this subchapter; and
(B) did not involve the use of deadly force by means of an autonomous drone; and
(3) before the use of force occurred, the law enforcement agency employing the actor adopted and submitted to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement a policy on the agency’s use of force by means of a drone, as required by Article 2.33, Code of Criminal Procedure, and the use of force conformed to the requirements of that policy.


Text of section effective until January 01, 2025

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Terms Used In Texas Penal Code 9.54

  • Actor: means a person whose criminal responsibility is in issue in a criminal action. See Texas Penal Code 1.07
  • Agency: includes authority, board, bureau, commission, committee, council, department, district, division, and office. See Texas Penal Code 1.07
  • Another: means a person other than the actor. See Texas Penal Code 1.07
  • Law: means the constitution or a statute of this state or of the United States, a written opinion of a court of record, a municipal ordinance, an order of a county commissioners court, or a rule authorized by and lawfully adopted under a statute. See Texas Penal Code 1.07