Art. 49.06 HINDERING AN INQUEST

If a justice of the peace needs to come look at a death scene or a body, nobody is allowed to stop them from getting in. This law makes it a crime to block or interfere with the justice of the peace when they're trying to enter the property to do their job.

This matters because justices of the peace often act as coroners in Texas, especially in areas without a medical examiner. They need to inspect the scene to figure out how someone died. If a person on purpose keeps them from getting inside, that person can be charged with a crime.

This offense is a Class B misdemeanor. That means someone convicted of this can face up to 180 days in jail, a fine of up to $2,000, or both.