Tex. Codes » Penal Code · TITLE 10. OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, AND MORALS · CHAPTER 49. INTOXICATION AND ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE OFFENSES
Texas Codes

Tex. Penal Code § 49.02 (2026)

Public Intoxication

✓ current as of May 2026
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Sec. 49.02. PUBLIC INTOXICATION. (a) A person commits an offense if the person appears in a public place while intoxicated to the degree that the person may endanger the person or another.

(a-1) For the purposes of this section, a premises licensed or permitted under the Alcoholic Beverage Code is a public place.

(b) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that the alcohol or other substance was administered for therapeutic purposes and as a part of the person's professional medical treatment by a licensed physician.

(c) Except as provided by Subsection (e), an offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor.

(d) An offense under this section is not a lesser included offense under Section 49.04.

(e) An offense under this section committed by a person younger than 21 years of age is punishable in the same manner as if the minor committed an offense to which Section 106.071, Alcoholic Beverage Code, applies.

Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 900, Sec. 1.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1994. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1013, Sec. 12, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.

Amended by:

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 68 (S.B. 904), Sec. 25, eff. September 1, 2007.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 136 cases (19 in the last 5 years), 1995–2026 · leading case: George Trammell v. Kevin Fruge, 868 F.3d 332 (5th Cir. 2017).
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George Trammell v. Kevin Fruge, 868 F.3d 332 (5th Cir. 2017). · cites it 4× “See TEX. PENAL CODE § 49.02(a). Moreover, it is clear that Trammell refused verbal commands and then physically resisted the officers’ attempt to arrest him.”
York v. State, 342 S.W.3d 528 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011). · cites it 2× “[27] TEX. PENAL CODE § 49.02(a). [28] Id., 1.07(40).”
United States v. Erick Garcia-Sandobal, 703 F.3d 1278 (11th Cir. 2013). · cites it 3× “*1287 § 5505; Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 49.02 ; Utah Code Ann.”
Campbell v. State, 325 S.W.3d 223 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2010). · cites it 2× “See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 49.02 (Vernon 2003); Torres, 182 S.”
Dansby v. State, 530 S.W.3d 213 (Tex. App.—Tyler 2017). · cites it 2× “” Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 49.02 (a) (West 2011).”
Rodriguez v. State, 191 S.W.3d 428 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2006). · cites it 2× “[58] See TEX. PEN.CODE ANN. § 49.02(a) (Vernon 2003).”
Martinez, Roger Anthony, 569 S.W.3d 621 (Tex. Crim. App. 2019). “TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 49.02(a). A public place means any place to which the public or a substantial group of the public has access.”
Harper v. State, 217 S.W.3d 672 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2007). · cites it 2× “See TEX. PEN.CODE ANN. §§ 49.02, 49.04 (Vernon 2003) (public intoxication and driving while intoxicated).”
Davis v. State, 930 S.W.2d 765 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1996). · cites it 2× “TEX.PENAL CODE ANN. § 49.02(a) (Vernon 1994).”
State v. Woodard, 314 S.W.3d 86 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2010). · cites it 2× “[17] Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 49.02 (a) (Vernon Supp.”
Casanova, Matthew John, 383 S.W.3d 530 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012). “See Tex. Penal Code § 49.02(a) & (c) ("A person commits [a Class C misdemeanor] offense if the person appears in a public place while intoxicated to the degree that the person may endanger the person or another.”
Porter v. State, 255 S.W.3d 234 (Tex. App.—Waco 2008). · cites it 3× “2007); Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 49.02 (a); Huntsville, Tex.”
Show all 136 citing cases →
Tex. Penal Code § 49.02(a): 47 cases
George Trammell v. Kevin Fruge, 868 F.3d 332 (5th Cir. 2017). “See TEX. PENAL CODE § 49.02(a). Moreover, it is clear that Trammell refused verbal commands and then physically resisted the officers’ attempt to arrest him.”
York v. State, 342 S.W.3d 528 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011). “[27] TEX. PENAL CODE § 49.02(a). [28] Id., 1.07(40).”
Rodriguez v. State, 191 S.W.3d 428 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2006). “[58] See TEX. PEN.CODE ANN. § 49.02(a) (Vernon 2003).”
Martinez, Roger Anthony, 569 S.W.3d 621 (Tex. Crim. App. 2019). “TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 49.02(a). A public place means any place to which the public or a substantial group of the public has access.”
Davis v. State, 930 S.W.2d 765 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 1996). “TEX.PENAL CODE ANN. § 49.02(a) (Vernon 1994).”
Tex. Penal Code § 49.02(b): 1 case
Robinson v. Johnson, 975 F. Supp. 950 (S.D. Tex. 1996).
Tex. Penal Code § 49.02(b)(3): 1 case
Clarissa Leigh Toba v. the State of Texas, No. 03-24-00310-CR (Tex. App.—Austin July 23, 2025).
Tex. Penal Code § 49.02(c): 3 cases
George Trammell v. Kevin Fruge, 868 F.3d 332 (5th Cir. 2017). “See TEX. PENAL CODE § 49.02(a). Moreover, it is clear that Trammell refused verbal commands and then physically resisted the officers’ attempt to arrest him.”
Rivera v. City of Pasadena, Texas, No. 4:20-cv-01881 (S.D. Tex. Aug. 16, 2021).
Vela v. Lewis, No. 4:23-cv-03376 (S.D. Tex. June 3, 2025).
Tex. Penal Code § 49.02(d): 1 case
Strong v. State, 87 S.W.3d 206 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2002).
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