Texas passed three new laws last session to curb oilfield theft - Senate Bill 494: Established the State Task Force on Petroleum Theft (STOPTheft) under the Railroad Commission of Texas. Senate Bill 1806: Granted trained law enforcement officers clear authority to inspect cargo tanks and oil tankers carrying petroleum products, collect forensic samples, and seize stolen materials. House Bill 48, which created a dedicated Organized Oilfield Theft Prevention Unit within the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to focus on hot spots like the Permian Basin. These laws were used recently during “Operation Black Market Basin” to bring down operator Vallee Oil “on state charges including felony oil theft, money laundering and organized crime. More arrests are expected as the investigation continues, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.” Read more here. Word on the street is that local prosecutors can prosecute operators for theft of royalties under these acts too. Has anyone tried this yet?