| (4) possess within a state park any fireworks, explosives,
or similar devices capable of explosion, or to discharge, set off,
or cause to be discharged in or into a state park any such device
or substance, except with written authorization from the director.
(i) Metal detector. It is an offense for any person
to operate or use a metal detector, except as authorized by permit.
(j) Minors and children.
(1) A person younger than 15 years who enters a state
park, must be supervised by a parent, legal guardian, or other responsible
adult over the age of 17 years at all times.
(2) A person 15 years or older, but younger than 17
years may not enter or remain in a state park during overnight hours
unless:
(A) the person is supervised by a parent, legal guardian
or other responsible person over the age of 17 years;
(B) the person furnishes written consent of a parent
or legal guardian to park personnel at the state park headquarters.
For purposes of this subsection, written consent consists of a statement
from a parent or legal guardian authorizing the person to enter the
park and stating the full name, residence address, and telephone number
of the parent or legal guardian; or
(C) the person is legally married.
(3) For purposes of this subsection, a person who is
required by this subsection to be supervised and is part of a group
will be considered supervised by a parent, legal guardian or other
responsible person if there is at least one supervising adult over
the age of 17 years for every 15 persons for whom supervision is required
by this subsection.
(4) For purposes of this subsection, "overnight hours"
is the time between a state park's closing time and opening time.
(5) It is an offense for a parent, legal guardian or
other responsible person charged with supervision of a person under
17 years of age to permit the person under 17 years of age to violate
a regulation contained in this subchapter.
(k) Motor Vehicle Use, Possession and Operation.
(1) Operation. It is an offense for any person to:
(A) operate a motor vehicle in a state park except
on roads, driveways, parking areas, and areas designated as open for
motor vehicle use;
(B) operate a motor vehicle in a state park if the
motor vehicle is not licensed and inspected as required by the Texas
Transportation Code or other law regarding the operation of motor
vehicles, except as specifically authorized by permit; or
(C) operate a motor vehicle in a state park in a manner
not authorized by the Texas Transportation Code or other laws regarding
the operation of motor vehicles.
(2) Parking. It is an offense for any person to:
(A) park a motor vehicle or trailer in a state park
except in areas designed, constructed, or designated for that purpose;
or
(B) park, store, or leave a motor vehicle or trailer
in violation of this section when signs have been posted in the affected
areas.
(3) Speed Limit. It is an offense for any person to
drive a motor vehicle within a state park at a speed:
(A) greater than is reasonable or prudent, having due
regard for the traffic and the road conditions then existing;
(B) that endangers the safety of persons or property;
or
(C) that exceeds the posted speed limit in any portion
of the state park system.
(4) Traffic. It is an offense for any person to:
(A) operate a motor vehicle in a state park between
the park closing hour and 6 a.m. opening hour, except for emergency
or necessary purposes; or
(B) operate a motor vehicle in an indiscriminate or
unnecessary manner (cruising).
(5) Trail use. It is an offense for any person to operate
or use a motor vehicle or a bicycle on an unpaved road, trail, or
path not designated and posted for use by such a motor vehicle or
bicycle or use the trail in a manner that is dangerous to a person
or animal.
(l) Natural and Cultural Resources.
(1) Plant life. It is an offense for any person to
willfully mutilate, injure, destroy, pick, cut, remove, or introduce
any plant life except by permit issued by the director.
(2) Geological features. It is an offense for any person
to take, remove, destroy, deface, tamper with, or disturb any rock,
earth, soil, gem, mineral, fossil, or other geological deposit except
by permit issued by the director.
(3) Cultural resources. It is an offense for any person
to take, remove, destroy, deface, tamper with, disturb, or otherwise
adversely impact any prehistoric or historic resource, including but
not limited to, buildings, structures, cultural features, rock art,
or artifacts, except by written order of the director.
(m) Peace and quiet. It is an offense for any person
to:
(1) disturb other persons in sleeping quarters or in
campgrounds between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.;
(2) cause, create, or contribute to any noise which
is broadcast, or caused to be broadcast, into sleeping quarters or
campgrounds, or which emits sound beyond the person's immediate campsite,
between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., whether by shouting or singing,
by using a radio, phonograph, television, or musical instrument, or
by operating mechanical or electronic equipment;
(3) use electronic equipment, including electrical
speakers, at a volume which emits sound beyond the immediate individual
camp or picnic site at any time without specific permission of the
director; or
(4) create a disturbance capable of negatively affecting
other park users by causing excessive noise by any means. Specific
allowable noise levels for specific parks or parts of parks may be
established by written order of the director.
(n) Public Nudity. It is an offense for any person
to disrobe or appear nude in public. Females are considered to be
disrobed when their breasts below the top of the areola are exposed
except when nursing a baby.
(o) Soliciting. It is an offense for any person to
solicit funds or donation of any item, or offer to sell any goods,
wares, merchandise, liquid, or edibles, or render any service for
hire, or distribute written material, in a state park, except by authority
of a concession agreement approved by the director.
(p) Water Recreation. It is an offense for any person
to:
(1) engage in water skiing, surf boarding while being
towed, towing a person or a similar device, or operate a motorized
ski device on lakes of less than 650 surface acres located in a state
park;
(2) enter water or swim in an area closed for that
activity;
(3) swim at night unless otherwise posted;
(4) introduce, carry into, or possess, use, break,
dispose of, throw, or abandon any glass container in the water of
a swimming area, swimming pool, or in the beach area adjacent to the
water of a swimming area;
(5) moor, dock, or berth a boat or any other object
between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., except in mooring areas designated
by the director; or
(6) moor, dock, or berth a commercial vessel at any
part of a state park except by permit from the director.
(q) Water, Wastewater, Sewage, and Garbage. It is an
offense for any person to:
(1) deposit waste water, sewage, or effluent from sinks,
toilets, or other plumbing fixtures directly on the ground or into
the water;
(2) use any water fountain, drinking fountain, pool,
sprinkler, reservoir, lake or any other water body contained in the
park for bathing, laundering, and washing dishes, pets, or vehicles
(including trailers);
(3) deposit fish parts at any location except park
fish cleaning facilities;
(4) discard, deposit, or dump garbage in a state park,
except for:
(A) garbage generated inside the park during the course
of park visitation; or
(B) an amount of garbage consistent with what ordinarily
would accumulate in a vehicle in the course of a day's travel;
(5) dispose of garbage except in a receptacle provided
for that use or as may otherwise be specifically authorized by department
personnel; or
(6) use water provided by the state park for purposes
other than drinking, washing or culinary uses.
|
