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 § 546.005 (2026)

Duty Of Care

✓ current as of May 2026
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Sec. 546.005. DUTY OF CARE. This chapter does not relieve the operator of an authorized emergency vehicle from:

(1) the duty to operate the vehicle with appropriate regard for the safety of all persons; or

(2) the consequences of reckless disregard for the safety of others.

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

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 55 cases (20 in the last 5 years), 1996–2026 · leading case: City of Amarillo v. Martin, 971 S.W.2d 426 (Tex. 1998).
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City of Amarillo v. Martin, 971 S.W.2d 426 (Tex. 1998). · cites it 8× “§ 24(e) (current version at TEX. TRANSP. CODE § 546.005). In another section of article 6701d dealing with the duties of civilian drivers, the Legislature repeated that it did not intend "to relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due…”
Green v. Alford, 274 S.W.3d 5 (Tex. App. 2008). · cites it 2× “005 of the Transportation Code, the driver of an emergency vehicle is not relieved from "the duty to operate the vehicle with appropriate regard for the safety of all persons" or "the consequences of reckless disregard for the safety of others.”
Smith v. Janda Ex Rel. Janda, 126 S.W.3d 543 (Tex. App. 2003). · cites it 2× “" Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 546.005 (Vernon 1999).”
Texas Dep't of Pub. Saf. v. Sparks, 347 S.W.3d 834 (Tex. App. 2011). · cites it 2× “” TEX. TRANSP. CODE ANN. § 546.005 (West 1999).”
Martinez v. Harris Cnty., 526 S.W.3d 557 (Tex. App. 2017). “” Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 546.001 (3) (West 2011).”
City of Pasadena v. Belle, 297 S.W.3d 525 (Tex. App. 2009). “See Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 546.005 (Vernon 1999); Green v.”
Kolster v. City of El Paso, 972 S.W.2d 58 (Tex. 1998). · cites it 2× “6701d, § 75(b) (Vernon 1977)) ("[T]he operator of an authorized emergency vehicle [is not exempted] from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the highway.”
Carcamo-Lopez v. Does 1 through 20, 865 F. Supp. 2d 736 (W.D. Tex. 2011). · cites it 2× “Texas Transportation Code § 546.005 The government next argues that Plaintiffs Complaint should be dismissed because a Texas statute provides that where a law enforcement officer is using a law enforcement vehicle in an emergency situation, the law enforcement officer cannot be…”
Adriana P. Perez v. Webb Cnty., 511 S.W.3d 233 (Tex. App. 2015). “” Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 546.005 , A person commits the offense of reckless driving if “the person drives a vehicle in wilful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.”
Kaufman Cnty. v. Leggett, Christopher, 396 S.W.3d 24 (Tex. App. 2012). “Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 546.005 (2); City of Pasadena v.”
Green v. City of Friendswood, 22 S.W.3d 588 (Tex. App. 2000). “Tex. Trans. Code Ann. § 546.005 (Vernon 1999 & Supp.”
George v. Price, 321 S.W.3d 164 (Tex. App. 2010). “The supreme court has also held that a similar statute covering emergency personnel, Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 546.005 (Vernon 1999), advances the legislative goal of encouraging emergency personnel to act swiftly and resolutely while at the same time protecting the public’s…”
Show all 55 citing cases →
— Tex. Transp. Code § 546.005(1) — 1 case
City of Houston, Texas v. Chelsea Manning, Individually & as Next Friend of T.N., Aaliyah Mitchell, & Cierra Williams (Tex. 2025).
— Tex. Transp. Code § 546.005(2) — 4 cases
Maria Christina Gomez v. the City of Houston (Tex. App. 2019).
Valentin Juarez & Bertha Juarez, Husband & Wife & Next Friend of Yolanda Juarez, & Raul MacIas v. City of Houston, Houston Police Dep't, Lanice Tobias Jr, Harris Cnty. Sheriff's Dep't & Am. Honda Motor Co., Inc. (Tex. App. 2019).
Alejandra Zapata, Individually & as Next Friend of Yarely Zapata, Antonio Morales Sr. & Irma Morales Individually & as Next Friends of Antonio Morales Jr. & Miguel Morales v. City of Gonzales (Tex. App. 2020).
Yolanda Hernandez Delgado v. Cameron Cnty. (Tex. App. 2024).
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