(a) Abandoned and unattended property. It is an offense for any person to:
(1) abandon a vehicle or other personal property;
(2) leave a vehicle, boat, barge, or other property unattended in a unit of the state park system in such a manner as to create a hazardous or unsafe condition; or
(3) leave property unattended in a state park without having received prior permission from the director or to leave a vehicle unattended after the closing hour, unless such person is legally in the park after closing, and unless he has parked the vehicle in a place designated by the director or he has prior permission from the director.
(b) Alcoholic beverages.
(1) Prohibition. Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, it is an offense for any person to:
(2) Exceptions. The provisions delineated in paragraph (1) of this subsection do not apply to an alcoholic beverage:
(c) Animals. Except as provided in this subsection, it is an offense for any person to bring into a state park, possess while in a state park, or release into a state park any species of animal. A pet, equine, or llama may be brought into and possessed within a state park as provided in this subsection.
(1) Equine or llama. It is an offense for any person to:
(2) Pets. It is an offense for any person to:
(3) Wildlife. It is an offense for any person to:
(d) Arms and Firearms. It is an offense for any person to display or discharge an arm or firearm in a state park, except while:
(1) the person is participating in a public hunting activity within the state park as authorized by applicable public hunting rules and regulations;
(2) the person is fishing by means of lawful archery equipment or is participating in an authorized, supervised recreational or educational activity;
(3) the person is licensed to possess and carry a handgun under Government Code, Chapter 411, Subchapter H, and is in possession of and carrying the handgun in compliance with applicable law, including, but not limited to, applicable regulations adopted pursuant to Government Code, Chapter 411, Subchapter H;
(4) the person carries a handgun in a holster in compliance with Penal Code, Chapter 46; or
(5) the person has been authorized to do so by written order of the director.
(e) Closed Area. It is an offense for any person to:
(1) prevent or interfere with development, construction, or management of a state park; or
(2) enter or remain in an area of a state park that has been closed by the director for any reason, including security, safety, preservation, or restoration.
(f) Entrance and User Fees and Permits: It is an offense for any person to enter, use, or occupy a facility in any portion of a state park for which a fee has been established or a permit is required unless the person has first paid the fee or satisfied the requirements of the permit, has received an entrance/use permit issued by the department, has displayed the permit as required, and agrees to comply with applicable permit conditions. If the office is closed, payment must be made according to posted instructions or signage.
(g) Facilities Use. It is an offense for any person to:
(1) use an area or facility for any purpose contrary to its designated purpose; or
(2) keep, use, or arrange a motor vehicle, trailer, camping, or other equipment except as specified by the director. All vehicles and trailers are restricted to designated roads and parking areas, unless otherwise specified by permit;
(3) enter into, or remain in, an area or facility for which a public use limit has been established when such action will have the effect of exceeding the established limitations;
(4) exceed the public use limit establishing a maximum number of persons and, if appropriate, the number and type of motor vehicles, trailers, and equipment permitted to enter into, or remain in, a designated area or facility at any time;
(5) continue to occupy a facility past check-out time when a check-out time has been established by the director; or
(6) engage in camping except as authorized by permit in areas designated or marked for that purpose.
(h) Fires, Firewood, Smoking and Fireworks. Portable gas-fueled camp stoves may be used in designated campsites or picnic areas; however, it is an offense for any person to:
(1) light, build, or maintain a fire within a state park except in a facility or device provided, maintained, or designated for such purposes or to smoke or build fires when an extreme fire hazard has been posted by the department or a burn ban has been instituted by local government ordinance;
(2) gather firewood except when authorized by permit;
(3) leave a fire unattended; or
(4) possess within a state park any fireworks, explosives, or similar devices capable of explosion, or to discharge, set off, or cause to be discharged in or into a state park any such device or substance, except with written authorization from the director.
(i) Metal detector. It is an offense for any person to operate or use a metal detector, except as authorized by permit.
(j) Minors and children.
(1) A person younger than 15 years who enters a state park, must be supervised by a parent, legal guardian, or other responsible adult over the age of 17 years at all times.
(2) A person 15 years or older, but younger than 17 years may not enter or remain in a state park during overnight hours unless:
(3) For purposes of this subsection, a person who is required by this subsection to be supervised and is part of a group will be considered supervised by a parent, legal guardian or other responsible person if there is at least one supervising adult over the age of 17 years for every 15 persons for whom supervision is required by this subsection.
(4) For purposes of this subsection, "overnight hours" is the time between a state park's closing time and opening time.
(5) It is an offense for a parent, legal guardian or other responsible person charged with supervision of a person under 17 years of age to permit the person under 17 years of age to violate a regulation contained in this subchapter.
(k) Motor Vehicle Use, Possession and Operation.
(1) Operation. It is an offense for any person to:
(2) Parking. It is an offense for any person to:
(3) Speed Limit. It is an offense for any person to drive a motor vehicle within a state park at a speed:
(4) Traffic. It is an offense for any person to:
(5) Trail use. It is an offense for any person to operate or use a motor vehicle or a bicycle on an unpaved road, trail, or path not designated and posted for use by such a motor vehicle or bicycle or use the trail in a manner that is dangerous to a person or animal.
(l) Natural and Cultural Resources.
(1) Plant life. It is an offense for any person to willfully mutilate, injure, destroy, pick, cut, remove, or introduce any plant life except by permit issued by the director.
(2) Geological features. It is an offense for any person to take, remove, destroy, deface, tamper with, or disturb any rock, earth, soil, gem, mineral, fossil, or other geological deposit except by permit issued by the director.
Cont'd...