# Tex. Transportation Code § 545.424 > Texas · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TX_Ctn_C545_S545.424 ## Section - **Citation:** Tex. Transportation Code § 545.424 - **Jurisdiction:** Texas - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** TX Code / Code tn / Chapter 545 / Section 545.424 ## Text Sec. 545.424. OPERATION OF VEHICLE BY PERSON UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE. (a) A person under 18 years of age may not operate a motor vehicle while using a wireless communication device, except in case of emergency. This subsection does not apply to a person licensed by the Federal Communications Commission while operating a radio frequency device other than a wireless communication device. (a-1) A person under 18 years of age may not operate a motor vehicle: (1) after midnight and before 5 a.m. unless the operation of the vehicle is necessary for the operator to attend or participate in employment or a school-related activity or because of a medical emergency; or (2) with more than one passenger in the vehicle under 21 years of age who is not a family member. (a-2) Notwithstanding Subsection (a-1), a person under 18 years of age may operate a moped after midnight and before 5 a.m. if the person is in sight of the person's parent or guardian. (b) A person under 17 years of age who holds a restricted motorcycle license may not operate a motorcycle while using a wireless communication device, except in case of emergency. This subsection does not apply to a person licensed by the Federal Communications Commission while operating a radio frequency device other than a wireless communication device. (b-1) A person under 17 years of age who holds a restricted motorcycle license, during the 12-month period following the issuance of an original motorcycle license to the person, may not operate a motorcycle after midnight and before 5 a.m. unless: (1) the person is in sight of the person's parent or guardian; or (2) the operation of the vehicle is necessary for the operator to attend or participate in employment or a school-related activity or because of a medical emergency. (c) Subsection (a-1) does not apply to a person operating a motor vehicle while accompanied in the manner required by Section 521.222(d)(2) for the holder of a learner license. (d) For the purposes of this section, employment includes work on a family farm by a member of the family that owns or operates the farm. (e) A peace officer may not stop a vehicle or detain the operator of a vehicle for the sole purpose of determining whether the operator of the vehicle has violated this section. (f) In this section, "wireless communication device" means a handheld or hands-free device that uses commercial mobile service, as defined by 47 U.S.C. Section 332. (g) An offense under Subsection (a) or (b) is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of at least $25 and not more than $99 unless it is shown on the trial of the offense that the defendant has been previously convicted at least one time of an offense under either subsection, in which event the offense is punishable by a fine of at least $100 and not more than $200. ## Nearby sections - [Tex. Transportation Code § 545.001 § 545.001. DEFINITIONS.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TX_Ctn_C545_S545.001.md) - [Tex. Transportation Code § 545.002 § 545.002. OPERATOR.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TX_Ctn_C545_S545.002.md) - [Tex. Transportation Code § 545.051 § 545.051. DRIVING ON RIGHT SIDE OF ROADWAY.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TX_Ctn_C545_S545.051.md) - [Tex. Transportation Code § 545.052 § 545.052. DRIVING PAST VEHICLE MOVING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TX_Ctn_C545_S545.052.md) - [Tex. Transportation Code § 545.053 § 545.053. PASSING TO THE LEFT; RETURN; BEING PASSED.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TX_Ctn_C545_S545.053.md) - [Tex. Transportation Code § 545.054 § 545.054.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TX_Ctn_C545_S545.054.md) - [Tex. Transportation Code § 545.055 § 545.055.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TX_Ctn_C545_S545.055.md) - [Tex. Transportation Code § 545.056 § 545.056.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TX_Ctn_C545_S545.056.md) - [Tex. Transportation Code § 545.057 § 545.057. PASSING TO THE RIGHT.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TX_Ctn_C545_S545.057.md) - [Tex. Transportation Code § 545.058 § 545.058. DRIVING ON IMPROVED SHOULDER.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TX_Ctn_C545_S545.058.md) - [Tex. Transportation Code § 545.059 § 545.059. ONE-WAY ROADWAYS AND ROTARY TRAFFIC ISLANDS.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TX_Ctn_C545_S545.059.md) - [Tex. Transportation Code § 545.060 § 545.060. DRIVING ON ROADWAY LANED FOR TRAFFIC.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TX_Ctn_C545_S545.060.md) - [Tex. Transportation Code § 545.061 § 545.061. DRIVING ON MULTIPLE-LANE ROADWAY.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TX_Ctn_C545_S545.061.md) - [Tex. Transportation Code § 545.062 § 545.062. FOLLOWING DISTANCE.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TX_Ctn_C545_S545.062.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TX_Ctn_C545_S545.424. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.