Section 423.0046 - Offense: Operation of Unmanned Aircraft Over Sports Venue(a) In this section, "sports venue" means an arena, automobile racetrack, coliseum, stadium, or other type of area or facility that: (1) has a seating capacity of 30,000 or more people; and(2) is primarily used for one or more professional or amateur sports or athletics events.(b) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally or knowingly operates an unmanned aircraft over a sports venue and the unmanned aircraft is not higher than 400 feet above ground level.(c) This section does not apply to conduct described by Subsection (b) that is committed by: (1) the federal government, the state, or a governmental entity;(2) a person under contract with or otherwise acting under the direction or on behalf of the federal government, the state, or a governmental entity;(3) a law enforcement agency;(4) a person under contract with or otherwise acting under the direction or on behalf of a law enforcement agency;(5) an operator of an unmanned aircraft that is being used for a commercial purpose, if the operation is conducted in compliance with:(A) each applicable Federal Aviation Administration rule, restriction, or exemption; and(B) all required Federal Aviation Administration authorizations;(6) an owner or operator of the sports venue;(7) a person under contract with or otherwise acting under the direction or on behalf of an owner or operator of the sports venue; or(8) a person who has the prior written consent of the owner or operator of the sports venue.(d) An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor, except that the offense is a Class A misdemeanor if the actor has previously been convicted under this section or Section 423.0045.Tex. Gov't. Code § 423.0046
Added by Acts 2017, Texas Acts of the 85th Leg. - Regular Session, ch. 1010,Sec. 4, eff. 9/1/2017.