Burglary of Coin-Operated or Coin Collection Machines: Texas Penal Code §30.03

The Texas Burglary of Coin-Operated or Coin Collection Machines law gives police the right to arrest you if they believe you broke into a coin-operated or coin collection machine to collect property or services.

The Texas legislature codified this criminal offense in Texas Penal Code Section 30.03. The legislature did not update this law in 2023. In fact, this law has not been amended since 1993.

The Penal Code codifies the Texas Burglary of Coin-Operated or Coin Collection Machines law under Title 7 “Offense Against Property,” Chapter 30 “Burglary And Criminal Trespass.” Learn more about the Texas offense of Burglary of Coin-Operated or Coin Collection Machines below.

What is the current Texas law about Burglary of Coin-Operated or Coin Collection Machines?

The current Texas law defines the offense of Burglary of Coin-Operated or Coin Collection Machines in Penal Code Section §30.03 as follows:^[1]

(a) A person commits an offense if, without the effective consent of the owner, he breaks or enters into any coin-operated machine, coin collection machine, or other coin-operated or coin collection receptacle, contrivance, apparatus, or equipment used for the purpose of providing lawful amusement, sales of goods, services, or other valuable things, or telecommunications with intent to obtain property or services.

How can I be charged with a Burglary of Coin-Operated or Coin Collection Machines offense in Texas?

You can be charged with Burglary of Coin-Operated or Coin Collection Machines in Texas if the state’s attorneys believe that each of the elements of 30.03(a) as described in the section above have been met.

What is the statute of limitation for Burglary of Coin-Operated or Coin Collection Machines in Texas?

As a misdemeanor, Burglary of Coin-Operated or Coin Collection Machines charges have a two-year limitations period.^[2]

What is the penalty for a Texas Burglary of Coin-Operated or Coin Collection Machines offense?

A conviction for Burglary of Coin-Operated or Coin Collection Machines in Texas is punished as a Class A misdemeanor,^[3] with a maximum possible fine under Texas state law of up to $4,000 and jail time of up to one year. Learn about the differences between grades of felonies and misdemeanors here.

Can you get probation for Burglary of Coin-Operated or Coin Collection Machines in Texas?

The Texas Code of Criminal Procedure allows both judges and juries to grant probation for Burglary of Coin-Operated or Coin Collection Machines, and judges are also allowed to accept deferred adjudication plea deals.^[4]

Note, however, that judges may not grant community supervision after a conviction if (1) the defendant used or exhibited a deadly weapon during the commission of the felony or immediate flight thereafter and (2) the defendant used or exhibited the deadly weapon himself or was a party to the offense and knew that a deadly weapon would be used or exhibited.^[5]

What level of crime is Burglary of Coin-Operated or Coin Collection Machines in Texas?

The Penal Code classifies the punishment for Burglary of Coin-Operated or Coin Collection Machines as a Class A misdemeanor.

Learn more about the penalty range for this offense in the section above.

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Legal References:

^1. Texas Penal Code §30.03. This law is current as of the 88th Legislature Regular Session.^2. See Code of Criminal Procedure 12.02(a)^3. Texas Penal Code §30.03(c)^4. See Chapter 42, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Art. 42A.054, Art. 42A.056, Art. 42A.102 .^5. Art. 42A.054(b), Texas Code of Criminal Procedure