Sec. 728.022. SALE OR TRANSFER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLE. (a) A person may not sell or transfer a marked patrol car or other law enforcement motor vehicle to the public unless the person first removes any equipment or insignia that could mislead a reasonable person to believe that the vehicle is a law enforcement motor vehicle, including any police light, siren, amber warning light, spotlight, grill light, antenna, emblem, outline of an emblem, or emergency vehicle equipment.

(b) A person may not sell or transfer a marked patrol car or other law enforcement motor vehicle to a security services contractor who is regulated by the Department of Public Safety and licensed under Chapter 1702, Occupations Code, unless each emblem or insignia that identifies the vehicle as a law enforcement motor vehicle is removed before the sale or transfer.

(c) A person who sells or transfers a marked patrol car or other law enforcement motor vehicle to the public in violation of this section is liable:

(1) for damages proximately caused by the use of that vehicle during the commission of a crime; and

(2) to this state for a civil penalty of $1,000.

(d) The attorney general may bring an action to recover the civil penalty imposed under Subsection (c)(2).

Added by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1068 (H.B. 3223), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2017.