The Unauthorized Acquisition Or Transfer Of Certain Financial Information crime in the state of Texas gives police the right to arrest you if they believe you obtained credit or debit card information when you were not authorized to do so.

Unauthorized Acquisition Or Transfer Of Certain Financial Information is classified in the Texas Penal Code under Title 7 “Offenses Against Property,” Chapter 31 “Theft.”

Learn more detailed information about the Unauthorized Acquisition Or Transfer Of Certain Financial Information offense below.

What is the current Texas law about Unauthorized Acquisition Or Transfer Of Certain Financial Information?

The current Texas law defines the offense of Unauthorized Acquisition or Transfer of Certain Financial Information in Penal Code Section §31.17 as follows:^[1]

(b) A person commits an offense if the person, knowing that the person is not entitled to obtain or possess that financial information:

(1) obtains the financial sight order or payment card information of another by use of an electronic, photographic, visual imaging, recording, or other device capable of accessing, reading, recording, capturing, copying, imaging, scanning, reproducing, or storing in any manner the financial sight order or payment card information; or

(2) transfers to a third party information obtained as described by Subdivision (1).

How can I be charged with Unauthorized Acquisition Or Transfer Of Certain Financial Information?

You can be charged with Unauthorized Acquisition Or Transfer Of Certain Financial Information if the state’s attorneys believe that each of the elements of 31.17(b) as described in the section above have been met.

What is the punishment for Unauthorized Acquisition Or Transfer Of Certain Financial Information?

If the offense falls under subsection (b)(1) then a conviction for Unauthorized Acquisition Or Transfer Of Certain Financial Information is punished as a Class B misdemeanor,^[2] with a maximum possible fine under Texas state law of up to $2,000 and jail time of up to 180 days.

If the offense falls under subsection (b)(2) then a conviction for Unauthorized Acquisition Or Transfer Of Certain Financial Information 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

---

Legal References:

^1. Texas Penal Code §31.17^2. Texas Penal Code §31.17(c)^3. Texas Penal Code §31.17(c)