Sec. 161.122. PROHIBITION RELATING TO CERTAIN SIGNS; EXCEPTIONS. (a) Except as provided by this section, a sign containing an advertisement for cigarettes or tobacco products may not be located closer than 1,000 feet to a church or school.
(b) The measurement of the distance between the sign containing an advertisement for cigarettes or tobacco products and an institution listed in Subsection (a) is from the nearest property line of the institution to a point on a street or highway closest to the sign, along street lines and in direct lines across intersections.
(c) This section does not apply to a sign located on or in a facility owned or leased by a professional sports franchise or in a facility where professional sports events are held at least 10 times during a 12-month period.
(d) In Subsection (c), a "facility" includes a stadium, arena, or events center and any land or property owned or leased by the professional sports franchise that is connected to or immediately contiguous to the stadium, arena, or events center.
(e) Subsection (a) does not apply to a sign containing an advertisement for cigarettes or tobacco products that, before September 1, 1997, was located closer than 1,000 feet to a church or school but that was not located closer than 500 feet to the church or school.
(f) A person commits an offense if the person places or authorizes the placement of a sign in violation of this section. An offense under this subsection is a Class C misdemeanor.
Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 107, Sec. 5.02(a), eff. Aug. 30, 1993. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 671, Sec. 2.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 209, Sec. 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2003.