Tex. Codes » Transportation Code · TITLE 7. VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC · SUBTITLE C. RULES OF THE ROAD · CHAPTER 546. OPERATION OF AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLES AND CERTAIN OTHER VEHICLES
Texas Codes

Tex. Transp. Code § 546.001 (2026)

Permissible Conduct

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Sec. 546.001. PERMISSIBLE CONDUCT. In operating an authorized emergency vehicle the operator may:

(1) park or stand, irrespective of another provision of this subtitle;

(2) proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, after slowing as necessary for safe operation;

(3) exceed a maximum speed limit, except as provided by an ordinance adopted under Section 545.365, as long as the operator does not endanger life or property; and

(4) disregard a regulation governing the direction of movement or turning in specified directions.

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

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 66 cases (27 in the last 5 years), 1998–2026 · leading case: Texas Dep't of Pub. Saf. v. Sparks, 347 S.W.3d 834 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2011).
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Texas Dep't of Pub. Saf. v. Sparks, 347 S.W.3d 834 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2011). · cites it 4× “” See TEX. TRANSP. CODE ANN. § 546.001. In his deposition testimony, Price was asked the basis for his conclusion that Hallett violated section 546.”
City of Pasadena v. Belle, 297 S.W.3d 525 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2009). · cites it 3× “See generally Tex. Transp. Code Ann. §§ 546.001 -.005 (Vernon 1999 & Supp.”
City of Pasadena v. Kuhn, 260 S.W.3d 93 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2008). · cites it 2× “Any intersection that an officer attempts to traverse when responding to an emergency is potentially a “blind intersection.” That is why the statute provides that an emergency vehicle may proceed through a stop fight after “slowing as necessary.”
City of Amarillo v. Martin, 971 S.W.2d 426 (Tex. 1998). · cites it 2× “6701d, § 24(c)(2) (repealed 1995) (current version at TEX. TRANSP. CODE § 546.001(2)). Therefore, the dissent should conclude that Clark is insulated from liability for any conduct short of recklessness.”
Smith v. Janda ex rel. Janda, 126 S.W.3d 543 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2003). · cites it 2× “2d at 431 (citing Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 546.001 (2)). Thus, "an emergency vehicle operator responding to an emergency call is allowed to proceed against a red traffic light after slowing for safe operation.”
Martinez v. Harris Cnty., 526 S.W.3d 557 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2017). · cites it 2× “” Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 546.001 (3) (West 2011).”
City of San Angelo Fire Dep't v. Hudson, 179 S.W.3d 695 (Tex. App.—Austin 2005). “Tex. Transp. Code Ann. §§ 546.001 , .002 (West 1999 & Supp.”
Texas Dep't of Pub. Saf. v. Merardo Bonilla, 481 S.W.3d 646 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2014). · cites it 2× “005 of thé Texas Transportation Code. Tex.TRAnsp.Code Ann.”
Adriana P. Perez v. Webb Cnty., 511 S.W.3d 233 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2015). “TEX. TRANSP. CODE ANN. § 546.001(2), (3) (West 2011).”
Kaufman Cnty. v. Leggett, Christopher, 396 S.W.3d 24 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2012). “See Tex. Transp. Code Ann. §§ 546.001 (3), 546.”
Green v. City of Friendswood, 22 S.W.3d 588 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2000). “Tex. TRAns. Code Ann. § 546.001 (3), (4) (Vernon 1999 & Supp.”
Carcamo-Lopez v. Does 1 through 20, 865 F. Supp. 2d 736 (W.D. Tex. 2011). “Tex. Transp. Code §§ 546.001, .005; Martin, 971 S.”
Show all 66 citing cases →
Tex. Transp. Code § 546.001(2): 27 cases
City of Amarillo v. Martin, 971 S.W.2d 426 (Tex. 1998). “6701d, § 24(c)(2) (repealed 1995) (current version at TEX. TRANSP. CODE § 546.001(2)). Therefore, the dissent should conclude that Clark is insulated from liability for any conduct short of recklessness.”
Texas Dep't of Pub. Saf. v. Sparks, 347 S.W.3d 834 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2011). “” See TEX. TRANSP. CODE ANN. § 546.001. In his deposition testimony, Price was asked the basis for his conclusion that Hallett violated section 546.”
Martinez v. Harris Cnty., 526 S.W.3d 557 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2017). “” Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 546.001 (3) (West 2011).”
Adriana P. Perez v. Webb Cnty., 511 S.W.3d 233 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2015). “TEX. TRANSP. CODE ANN. § 546.001(2), (3) (West 2011).”
Texas Dep't of Pub. Saf. v. Merardo Bonilla, 481 S.W.3d 646 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2014). “005 of thé Texas Transportation Code. Tex.TRAnsp.Code Ann.”
Tex. Transp. Code § 546.001(3): 7 cases
City of Houston v. Jarrett Johnson, No. 01-23-00356-CV, 2025 WL 1521763 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] May 29, 2025).
Norma Torres v. City of Corpus Christi, No. 13-14-00506-CV (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi Apr. 22, 2015).
Norma Torres v. City of Corpus Christi, No. 13-14-00506-CV (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi Sept. 1, 2016).
Alexa Marie Jarpe v. City of Lubbock, No. 07-17-00316-CV, 2019 WL 2529670 (Tex. App.—Amarillo June 19, 2019).
City of Austin v. Noel Powell, 704 S.W.3d 437 (Tex. 2024).
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