Is It Illegal To Display The Texas Flag Upside Down?

Travel across Texas and you will notice that Texans love flying the Texas Flag. Whether you are passing auto dealerships, malls, shopping centers, storage units, or just someone's home, you are bound to see the Lone Star Flag flying proudly in the sky.

But what happens when the Lone Star Flag is displayed upside down? Is it illegal? Can someone be fined for flying the flag in such a manner? Can they actually be taken to jail? And as a Texan, what duty do you have to correct such a display?

Is It Illegal To Display The Texas Flag Upside Down?

In case you didn't know, under Texas Government Code's Section 3100.002 the Texas Flag is described by law this way:

“one blue vertical stripe that has a width equal to one-third the length of the flag; two equal horizontal stripes, the upper stripe white, the lower stripe red, each having a length equal to two-thirds the length of the flag; and one white, regular five-pointed star located in the center of the blue stripe; oriented so that one point faces upward.”

Subchapter B even tells us how to display the flag, including when it's on a flagpole. And according to Texas Government Code, "the white stripe should be at the top of the flag".

There is an exception to this though. And it's found in the same paragraph as how to display the flag.

"the white stripe should be at the top of the flag, except as a signal of dire distress in an instance of extreme danger to life or property"

So the answer is NO. It's not illegal to display the flag upside down. You can't be fined or hauled off to jail. But you may offend some people or even have some people concerned about your well-being.

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What Should I Do If Someone Or A Business Is Flying The Texas Flag Upside Down?

Well, hopefully they are not sending a signal of distress or extreme danger. Most likely, someone just messed up and wasn't paying attention. Be a good neighbor and Texan and let the person or business know. They would probably be grateful since there are many people who would be offended by seeing the Lone Star Flag being flown upside down.