(a) A peace officer, including a peace officer commissioned by the commission, or a commissioned officer of the Department of Public Safety who is assigned to work on racing investigations may enter an office, a racetrack, any area on association grounds, or any similar area or other place of business of an association at any time to inspect, examine, or search an individual's person and possessions in that area and to seize any contraband or other item that is found, which may be evidence of a rule violation or a criminal offense. A search of dormitory rooms where participants of racing actually reside will be conducted pursuant to a validly obtained warrant to search, or without a warrant if consent is obtained or exigent circumstances exist.
(b) A person conducting a search authorized by this section may obtain the assistance of a commission employee or an employee of another local, state, or federal governmental entity.
(c) By applying for, accepting, or holding a license under the Act, an individual licensee consents to an inspection, examination, or search conducted under this section of the licensee's person and possessions while on premises covered by this section and to the seizure of any contraband or other item that is found which may be evidence of a rule violation or a criminal offense. Consent described in this subsection:
  (1) is not effective for a search outside the premises covered by this section;
  (2) is not effective for a search conducted at a time when no valid license was in effect, unless at the time of the search the licensee who was searched claimed the existence of a valid license as authority to enter or remain in an area covered by this section;
  (3) is not limited in effect to a pre-race or post-race search or a search on a race day; and
  (4) is not limited in effect to a search based on reasonable cause, reasonable suspicion, reasonable grounds, probable cause, or any similar legal standard.
(d) By applying for, accepting, or holding a temporary pass to enter or remain on any restricted area of association grounds, an individual who is not a licensee consents to a search conducted under this section of the individual's person or possessions in that area and to the seizure of any contraband or other item that is found which may be evidence of a rule violation or a criminal offense. Consent described in this subsection:
  (1) is not effective for a search outside the restricted area covered by this subsection;
  (2) is not effective for a search conducted at a time when no temporary pass was in effect, unless at the time of the search the individual who was searched claimed the existence of a valid pass as authority to enter or remain in the restricted area covered by this subsection;
  (3) is not limited in effect to a pre-race or post-race search or a search on a race day; and
  (4) is not limited in effect to a search based on reasonable cause, reasonable suspicion, reasonable grounds, probable cause, or any similar legal standard.
(e) A licensee, an officer, employee, or agent of an association, or holder of a temporary pass may not refuse or deny a request by a person acting under the authority of this section to enter, inspect, examine, or search any property that is covered by this section and to seize any contraband or other item that is found which may be evidence of a rule violation or a criminal offense.
(f) An association shall post a sign at each entrance to, but outside of, any restricted area of association grounds that gives conspicuous notice of at least the following:
  (1) the consent to search given by a licensee under this section;
  (2) the consent to search given by a non-licensee under this section;
  (3) the criminal consequences for refusing or denying a request by a person acting under the authority of this section to inspect, examine, or search any property that is within a restricted area and to seize any contraband or other item that is found which may be evidence of a rule violation or a criminal offense; and
  (4) the fact that entry into the restricted area of association grounds is forbidden except for a person holding a credential or temporary pass or for another person expressly permitted to enter under the Act or commission rules.

Source Note: The provisions of this §319.11 adopted to be effective August 14, 1989, 14 TexReg 3802; amended to be effective November 22, 1991, 16 TexReg 6460; amended to be effective May 1, 1992, 17 TexReg 2769; amended to be effective November 1, 1998, 23 TexReg 10637.