Texas Codes

Tex. Transp. Code § 545.401 (2026)

Reckless Driving; Offense

✓ current as of May 2026
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Sec. 545.401. RECKLESS DRIVING; OFFENSE. (a) A person commits an offense if the person drives a vehicle in wilful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.

(b) An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by:

(1) a fine not to exceed $200;

(2) confinement in county jail for not more than 30 days; or

(3) both the fine and the confinement.

(c) Notwithstanding Section 542.001, this section applies to:

(1) a private access way or parking area provided for a client or patron by a business, other than a private residential property or the property of a garage or parking lot for which a charge is made for the storing or parking of motor vehicles; and

(2) a highway or other public place.

(d) Notwithstanding Section 542.004, this section applies to a person, a team, or motor vehicles and other equipment engaged in work on a highway surface.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 96 cases (27 in the last 5 years), 1998–2026 · leading case: Fernandez v. State, 306 S.W.3d 354 (Tex. App. 2010).
Fernandez v. State, 306 S.W.3d 354 (Tex. App. 2010). · cites it 8× “Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 545.401 (a) (Vernon 1999).”
Gerald Christopher Zuliani v. State, 383 S.W.3d 289 (Tex. App. 2012). · cites it 13× “See Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 545.401 (West 2011); Tex.”
Rice v. State, 333 S.W.3d 140 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011). · cites it 2× “Tex. Transp. Code § 545.401(a). Finally, we ask whether the elements of the lesser offense are “established by proof of the same or less than all the facts required to establish the commission of the offense charged”? Tex.”
Rice v. State, 305 S.W.3d 900 (Tex. App. 2010). · cites it 7× “2009); Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 545.401 (a), (b) (Vernon 1999).”
Benge v. State, 94 S.W.3d 31 (Tex. App. 2003). · cites it 3× “Tex. Trans. Code Ann. § 545.401 (b) (Vernon 1999).”
Thomas v. State, 336 S.W.3d 703 (Tex. App. 2011). · cites it 2× “See Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 545.152 (Vernon 1999).”
Dixon v. State, 358 S.W.3d 250 (Tex. App. 2011). · cites it 2× “05 (a) (West 2003); Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 545.401 (a) (West 1999).”
Brown v. State, 183 S.W.3d 728 (Tex. App. 2006). “Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 545.401 (a) (Vernon 1999).”
Dolkart v. State, 197 S.W.3d 887 (Tex. App. 2006). “See Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 545.401 (a) (Vernon 1999) (person commits offense of reckless driving by driving vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for safety of persons or property); Cleburn v.”
United States v. Raney, 633 F.3d 385 (5th Cir. 2011). “” Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 545.401 (a) (West 1999).”
Davis v. State, 989 S.W.2d 859 (Tex. App. 1999). “See Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 545.401 (West 1999).”
Steels v. State, 170 S.W.3d 765 (Tex. App. 2005). · cites it 2× “Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 545.401 (a), (b) (Vernon 1999).”
— Tex. Transp. Code § 545.401(a) — 32 cases
Rice v. State, 333 S.W.3d 140 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011). “Tex. Transp. Code § 545.401(a). Finally, we ask whether the elements of the lesser offense are “established by proof of the same or less than all the facts required to establish the commission of the offense charged”? Tex.”
Benge v. State, 94 S.W.3d 31 (Tex. App. 2003). “Tex. Trans. Code Ann. § 545.401 (b) (Vernon 1999).”
Steels v. State, 170 S.W.3d 765 (Tex. App. 2005). “Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 545.401 (a), (b) (Vernon 1999).”
United States v. Raney, 633 F.3d 385 (5th Cir. 2011).
— Tex. Transp. Code § 545.401(b) — 3 cases
Michael Allen Fore v. State (Tex. App. 2020).
Gilbert Cisneros v. State (Tex. App. 2018).
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