Texas Statutes
Chapter 18 - Search Warrants
Article 18.02. Grounds for Issuance


(1) property acquired by theft or in any other manner which makes its acquisition a penal offense;
(2) property specially designed, made, or adapted for or commonly used in the commission of an offense;
(3) arms and munitions kept or prepared for the purposes of insurrection or riot;
(4) weapons prohibited by the Penal Code;
(5) gambling devices or equipment, altered gambling equipment, or gambling paraphernalia;
(6) obscene materials kept or prepared for commercial distribution or exhibition, subject to the additional rules set forth by law;
(7) a drug, controlled substance, immediate precursor, chemical precursor, or other controlled substance property, including an apparatus or paraphernalia kept, prepared, or manufactured in violation of the laws of this state;
(8) any property the possession of which is prohibited by law;
(9) implements or instruments used in the commission of a crime;
(10) property or items, except the personal writings by the accused, constituting evidence of an offense or constituting evidence tending to show that a particular person committed an offense;
(11) persons;
(12) contraband subject to forfeiture under Chapter 59 of this code;
(13) electronic customer data held in electronic storage, including the contents of and records and other information related to a wire communication or electronic communication held in electronic storage; or
(14) a cellular telephone or other wireless communications device, subject to Article 18.0215.
(b) For purposes of Subsection (a)(13):
(1) "Electronic communication" and "wire communication" have the meanings assigned by Article 18A.001.
(2) "Electronic customer data" and "electronic storage" have the meanings assigned by Article 18B.001.
Acts 1965, 59th Leg., vol. 2, p. 317, ch. 722. Amended by Acts 1973, 63rd Leg., p. 982, ch. 399, Sec. 2(E), eff. Jan. 1, 1974; Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 640, ch. 237, Sec. 2, eff. May 25, 1977; Amended by Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 2790, ch. 755, Sec. 5, eff. Sept. 1, 1981; Acts 1989, 71st Leg., 1st C.S., ch. 12, Sec. 3, eff. Oct. 18, 1989; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1099, Sec. 16, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Amended by:
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1289 (H.B. 2268), Sec. 1, eff. June 14, 2013.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1251 (H.B. 1396), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015.
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1058 (H.B. 2931), Sec. 3.03, eff. January 1, 2019.

Structure Texas Statutes

Texas Statutes

Code of Criminal Procedure

Title 1 - Code of Criminal Procedure

Chapter 18 - Search Warrants

Article 18.01. Search Warrant

Article 18.011. Sealing of Affidavit

Article 18.02. Grounds for Issuance

Article 18.021. Issuance of Search Warrant to Photograph Injured Child

Article 18.0215. Access to Cellular Telephone or Other Wireless Communications Device

Article 18.03. Search Warrant May Order Arrest

Article 18.04. Contents of Warrant

Article 18.05. Warrants for Fire, Health, and Code Inspections

Article 18.06. Execution of Warrants

Article 18.065. Execution of Warrant Issued by District Judge for DNA Specimen

Article 18.067. Execution of Warrant for Blood Specimen in Intoxication Offense

Article 18.07. Days Allowed for Warrant to Run

Article 18.08. Power of Officer Executing Warrant

Article 18.09. Shall Seize Accused and Property

Article 18.095. Seizure of Circuit Board of Gambling Device, Equipment, or Paraphernalia

Article 18.10. How Return Made

Article 18.11. Custody of Property Found

Article 18.12. Magistrate Shall Investigate

Article 18.13. Shall Discharge Defendant

Article 18.14. Examining Trial

Article 18.15. Certify Record to Proper Court

Article 18.16. Preventing Consequences of Theft

Article 18.17. Disposition of Abandoned or Unclaimed Property

Article 18.18. Disposition of Gambling Paraphernalia, Prohibited Weapon, Criminal Instrument, and Other Contraband

Article 18.181. Disposition of Explosive Weapons and Chemical Dispensing Devices

Article 18.182. Disposition of Item Bearing Counterfeit Mark

Article 18.183. Deposit of Money Pending Disposition

Article 18.19. Disposition of Seized Weapons

Article 18.191. Disposition of Firearm Seized From Certain Persons With Mental Illness

Article 18.22. Testing Certain Defendants or Confined Persons for Communicable Diseases

Article 18.23. Expenses for Motor Vehicle Towed and Stored for Certain Purposes

Article 18.24. Body Cavity Search During Traffic Stop