Tex. Codes » Penal Code · TITLE 8. OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION · CHAPTER 37. PERJURY AND OTHER FALSIFICATION
Texas Codes

Tex. Penal Code § 37.11 (2026)

Impersonating Public Servant

✓ current as of May 2026
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Sec. 37.11. IMPERSONATING PUBLIC SERVANT. (a) A person commits an offense if the person:

(1) impersonates a public servant with intent to induce another to submit to the person's pretended official authority or to rely on the person's pretended official acts; or

(2) knowingly purports to exercise, without legal authority, any function of a public servant or of a public office, including that of a judge and court.

(b) An offense under this section is a felony of the third degree.

Acts 1973, 63rd Leg., p. 883, ch. 399, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1974. Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 900, Sec. 1.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1994; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 189, Sec. 7, eff. May 21, 1997.

Amended by:

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 243 (S.B. 1820), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2019.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 50 cases (10 in the last 5 years), 1982–2026 · leading case: Ex Parte Niswanger, 335 S.W.3d 611 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011).
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Ex Parte Niswanger, 335 S.W.3d 611 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011). · cites it 4× “Texas Penal Code, section 37.11. The indictment filed by the district attorney stated that Applicant did then and there impersonate a public servant, namely a fireman, with intent to induce Shawn Solly to submit to the pretended official authority of the defendant or to rely on…”
Aldrich v. State, 104 S.W.3d 890 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003). · cites it 2× “" [2] Each confession consisted of a pre-printed form with a check mark in a blank beside the phrase, "I am guilty of the offense of," with the phrase, "impersonating an officer," handwritten below.”
Dietz v. State, 62 S.W.3d 335 (Tex. App. 2002). · cites it 4× “Mark Dietz appeals his conviction for impersonating a public servant, see Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 37.11 (West Supp.2001), for which he was sentenced to two years’ probation.”
Cornwell, Robert William, 471 S.W.3d 458 (Tex. Crim. App. 2015). · cites it 3× “11 of the Texas Penal Code. Tex. Penal Code § 37.11.”
Hughes v. Garcia, 100 F.4th 611 (5th Cir. 2024). · cites it 2× “Hughes was charged with third-degree felony impersonation of a peace officer under Texas Penal Code § 37.11. The charge carried a minimum sentence of 2 years in prison, a maximum of 10 years in prison, and a possible 8 Case: 22-20621 Document: 85-1 Page: 9 Date Filed: 05/03/2024…”
Page v. State, 213 S.W.3d 332 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006). “011, while the second indictment charged appellant with impersonating a public servant in violation of Tex. Penal Code § 37.11. Appellant plead not guilty to both charges, but a jury convicted him.”
Aldrich v. State, 53 S.W.3d 460 (Tex. App. 2001). · cites it 2× “" Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 37.11(a) (Vernon Supp.”
Tovar v. State, 777 S.W.2d 481 (Tex. App. 1989). · cites it 3× “Tex.Penal Code Ann. § 37.11(a) (Vernon 1989) provides that a person impersonates a public servant if he does so “with intent to induce another to submit to his pretended official authority or to rely on his pretended official acts.”
Empower Texans, Inc. v. Nodolf, 306 F. Supp. 3d 961 (W.D. Tex. 2018). · cites it 6× “The complaint alleged that Plaintiff's notices and use of the name Texas Ethics Disclosure Board constituted a violation of Texas Penal Code § 37.11. 1 Id. News articles quote Mindy Montford, First Assistant District Attorney for Travis County, as stating the complaint is "under…”
Texas Dep't of Pub. Saf. v. LaFleur, 32 S.W.3d 911 (Tex. App. 2000). · cites it 2× “Tex.Pen.Code Ann. § 37.11(b), Act of May 29, 1993, 73rd Leg .”
Brown v. State, 212 S.W.3d 851 (Tex. App. 2006). “” Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 37.11(a)(1) (Vernon 2003).”
Rice v. State, 195 S.W.3d 876 (Tex. App. 2006). “” Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 37.11(a)(1) (Vernon 2003).”
Show all 50 citing cases →
— Tex. Penal Code § 37.11(a) — 10 cases
Aldrich v. State, 104 S.W.3d 890 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003). “" [2] Each confession consisted of a pre-printed form with a check mark in a blank beside the phrase, "I am guilty of the offense of," with the phrase, "impersonating an officer," handwritten below.”
Ex Parte Niswanger, 335 S.W.3d 611 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011). “Texas Penal Code, section 37.11. The indictment filed by the district attorney stated that Applicant did then and there impersonate a public servant, namely a fireman, with intent to induce Shawn Solly to submit to the pretended official authority of the defendant or to rely on…”
Aldrich v. State, 53 S.W.3d 460 (Tex. App. 2001). “" Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 37.11(a) (Vernon Supp.”
Tovar v. State, 777 S.W.2d 481 (Tex. App. 1989). “Tex.Penal Code Ann. § 37.11(a) (Vernon 1989) provides that a person impersonates a public servant if he does so “with intent to induce another to submit to his pretended official authority or to rely on his pretended official acts.”
Tooke v. State, 642 S.W.2d 514 (Tex. App. 1982).
— Tex. Penal Code § 37.11(a)(1) — 13 cases
Brown v. State, 212 S.W.3d 851 (Tex. App. 2006). “” Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 37.11(a)(1) (Vernon 2003).”
Rice v. State, 195 S.W.3d 876 (Tex. App. 2006). “” Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 37.11(a)(1) (Vernon 2003).”
Cornwell, Robert William, 471 S.W.3d 458 (Tex. Crim. App. 2015). “11 of the Texas Penal Code. Tex. Penal Code § 37.11.”
United States v. Stevenson, 97 F. App'x 468 (5th Cir. 2004).
Johnson v. Town of Prosper, Texas (E.D. Tex. 2025).
— Tex. Penal Code § 37.11(a)(1)(2) — 2 cases
Johnson v. Town of Prosper, Texas (E.D. Tex. 2025).
Johnson v. Town of Prosper, Texas (E.D. Tex. 2025).
— Tex. Penal Code § 37.11(a)(1)(a) — 2 cases
Johnson v. Town of Prosper, Texas (E.D. Tex. 2025).
Johnson v. Town of Prosper, Texas (E.D. Tex. 2025).
— Tex. Penal Code § 37.11(a)(2) — 1 case
Coleman, Christopher Tye v. The State of Texas (Tex. Crim. App. 2026).
— Tex. Penal Code § 37.11(b) — 3 cases
Texas Dep't of Pub. Saf. v. LaFleur, 32 S.W.3d 911 (Tex. App. 2000). “Tex.Pen.Code Ann. § 37.11(b), Act of May 29, 1993, 73rd Leg .”
Hughes v. Garcia, 100 F.4th 611 (5th Cir. 2024). “Hughes was charged with third-degree felony impersonation of a peace officer under Texas Penal Code § 37.11. The charge carried a minimum sentence of 2 years in prison, a maximum of 10 years in prison, and a possible 8 Case: 22-20621 Document: 85-1 Page: 9 Date Filed: 05/03/2024…”
Lonnie Lynn Johnson v. State (Tex. App. 2016).
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