Hobbies And Interests
Legal Ambiguity
Gas powered toys come in the form of cars, boats, airplanes and helicopters and models are as varied as their full sized counterparts. Texas, like many states, does not have hard fast laws designed specifically for gas-powered toy vehicles. Laws being developed at the federal level apply to Texas but are works in progress, largely in part because it is difficult to create laws for vehicles that are ambiguous in nature. On one hand the vehicle is motorized and gas-powered, which has obvious legal implications. But on the other hand it is a toy.
Safety and Security Laws
Safety and security is one area of incidental laws that affect your use of gas-powered toys in Texas. Locally, cities pass ordinances with an eye toward safety and security and the operation of these toys cannot obviously break those rules. Even accidentally crossing the legal line may result in fines or charges depending on the severity of any incidents. For example, flying your gas-powered aircraft into someone's window or near a federal building violates several laws. Whether you do this kind of thing accidentally does not matter.
Use in Public Spaces
General rules govern your use of a gas-powered vehicle in a public place or in private spaces where neighbors are close by. For example, operating a toy aircraft at night may be intrusive to your neighbors and in violation of civil ordinances. Operating a boat that leaks gasoline into the water can get you into trouble under environmental laws in effect in all Texas state and city parks.
Insurance Laws
No law exists requiring you to insure a gas-powered vehicle; however, many hobbyists do insure these vehicles, partially to safeguard the investment of owning the toy and partially for liability. It is very possible to injure someone or damage property through usage of a gas-powered toy, such as flying a plane into someone or leaking gas from a toy car igniting in someone's home.
Common Sense
The lack of laws governing use of a gas-powered toy does not mean you can be reckless or careless with your use of them. In extreme situations involving negligence, injury or destruction, there is always a law that you can be charged for breaking. For example, flying your plane into power lines can be covered by laws like public endangerment or destruction of public property in Texas.