Mark Anderson | May 26, 2026 | Texas Law
Texas has always had a reputation for doing things its own way, a reputation that holds true in the context of what laws the state has on the books. Mixed in with the serious stuff are some truly strange rules that have managed to stick around for decades. Most of these are rarely enforced nowadays, yet they are technically still part of the law and could hold legal force in some circumstances.
And further, what makes some of these laws all the more interesting is that a few of them actually connect to real legal issues that come up in personal injury cases today. Read on for five of the most unusual laws in Texas and what they might mean for you.
1. You Can’t Carry Wire Cutters in Your Pocket in Austin
Back in the 1880s, Texas ranchers were locked in a bitter dispute over barbed wire fencing. Those who wanted open ranges would sneak around cutting fences, and the conflict got ugly fast. To crack down on the chaos, Texas lawmakers actually made it a crime to carry wire cutters on your person.
While this quirky rule was officially taken off the books during a major cleanup of the state’s penal code in 1973, it reminds us of a timeless Texas truth: property disputes can escalate quickly. Today, property boundary arguments and trespassing issues remain a very real source of premises liability and personal injury claims in Texas.
2. It’s Illegal to Sell Your Own Organs
Selling human organs is strictly prohibited under Texas Penal Code § 48.02. While it makes practical sense that the state regulates this, the penalties might surprise you: it isn’t just a minor infraction—it is classified as a felony.
A conviction could land you in state jail for up to two years, along with fines reaching $10,000 (though you are legally allowed to sell your blood plasma and hair). This strict law highlights just how seriously Texas takes health, safety, and bodily integrity. When someone’s medical safety is compromised due to surgical malpractice or an accident, the legal system steps in with equally serious civil remedies.
3. Horses Need Taillights After Dark
You might have heard the popular internet rumor that Texas law requires horses to wear taillights after dark. While physical horse-taillights are just an urban legend, the underlying legal concept is entirely real. In Texas, horses are considered a legitimate form of transportation on public roads.
Under the Texas Transportation Code, anyone riding an animal or driving an animal-drawn vehicle is subject to the same traffic duties as a motorist. Because poor visibility is a leading factor in nighttime accidents, a rider who takes a horse onto a dark road without reflective gear or proper precautions can be held legally liable if they cause a serious collision.
4. Spittoons Are Required in Certain El Paso Buildings
An old historical ordinance in El Paso once legally required certain public buildings to maintain spittoons on hand. It sounds gross today, but it was originally a serious sanitation measure put in place to prevent the spread of diseases like tuberculosis back when spitting in public was common.
While modern health codes have long since replaced the spittoon requirement, the core spirit of the law remains. Under Texas premises liability law, property owners and businesses are still legally obligated to keep their buildings reasonably safe and sanitary for visitors. If a business fails to clean up a hazard and you get hurt, they can be held accountable.
5. Liquor Stores Must Stay Closed on Sundays
Texas still enforces certain “blue laws” that restrict business operations on Sundays, including that liquor stores across the state are required to close for the entire day. These laws have roots in older religious traditions but remain actively enforced nonetheless. From a legal standpoint, businesses that violate operating restrictions can face fines and other penalties.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Dallas Personal Injury Lawyer at Anderson Injury Lawyers
Laws like these might seem harmless on the surface. However, they are meant to point to something important in that Texas has a longstanding history of holding people and businesses responsible when their actions put others at risk.
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Fort Worth, Dallas, or Austin and need legal help, contact our personal injury lawyers at Anderson Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation. We proudly serve Tarrant County, Dallas County, Travis County, and throughout Texas.
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Fort Worth Office
1310 W El Paso St, Fort Worth, TX 76102
(817) 294-1900
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 32.74621197527774, -97.33552733508391
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Fort Worth Office (Secondary)
6618 Fossil Bluff Dr # 108, Fort Worth, TX 76137
(817) 631-4113
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 32.86241013538118, -97.30973893918065
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Dallas Office
408 W Eighth St Suite 202, Dallas, TX 75208
(214) 327-8000
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 32.748815542196404, -96.82524302658787
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Austin Office
811 Nueces Street 6301, Austin TX, 78701
(512) 399-5000
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 30.307794623518102, -97.73755898409242
About the Author
Mark A. Anderson is the founder of Anderson Injury Lawyers and a Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer—an honor held by only a small percentage of Texas attorneys. He earned his law degree from Baylor University School of Law and has spent more than 20 years helping injury victims across Dallas, Fort Worth and Austin. Mark handles cases involving car accidents, truck accidents, product liability, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, and more. Click here to view some of the successful case results Mark has achieved for his clients.
Location: Dallas, Fort Worth, and Austin, Texas
Justia / LinkedIn / Yelp / Facebook / Instagram / X / TikTok / Youtub