According to the National Weather Service, nearly 1 to 5 inches of rain had fallen in parts of Central Texas by Monday morning. Flash flood warnings for Travis, Hays and Williamson counties had expired by midmorning, but a flood watch remained in effect for much of the region through 7 p.m. Tuesday.
The storm’s main impact in Austin appeared to be flooding at low-water crossings and other flood-prone roads. More than 100 water crossings in the Austin area were closed Monday morning, and officials continued to urge drivers not to cross flooded roads.
But while officials are warning people to avoid flooded roads, some drivers might feel emboldened to drive around barricades. Is that legal? Here’s what Texas law says.
Not only are people at risk of putting themselves in danger by ignoring barricades, but they also could face penalties.
According to Texas Transportation Code, it is a misdemeanor to disobey traffic warning signs or drive around barricades on a roadway. If the sign or barricade was placed because water is over part of a road, street or highway, the offense is a Class B misdemeanor.
The penalty can depend on the circumstances.
While Texas drivers might assume road conditions are safe after a storm or feel confident in their driving skills, drivers who attempt to go around barriers often get stuck in flooded low-water crossings or active construction sites.
“[Flooding] can cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles, even heavy pickup trucks and SUVs,” TxDOT said. “That’s a major reason why most flood-related deaths in Texas happen in vehicles.”
The agency shared these safety tips for Texas drivers:
-Austin American-Statesman reporter Dante Motley contributed to this report.