Texas Transportation Code chapter 683, as amended, is adopted by reference, and the provisions of said chapter shall control and take precedence over any conflicting provisions of this article.
(1995 Code, sec. 172.001)
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meaning indicated below:
A vehicle that:
Is inoperative and over five years old and is left unattended on public property for more than 48 hours;
Has remained illegally on public property for a period of more than 48 hours;
Has remained on private property without the consent of the owner or person in control of the property for more than 48 hours; or
Has been left unattended on the right-of-way of a designated county, state, or federal highway for more than 48 hours.
A passenger car or truck that is at least 25 years old.
The owner of one or more antique or special interest vehicles who collects, purchases, acquires, trades, or disposes of special interest or antique vehicles or parts of them for personal use in order to restore, preserve, and maintain an antique or special interest vehicle for historic interest.
A person whose business is to convert a motor vehicle into processed scrap or scrap metal or to otherwise wreck or dismantle a motor vehicle.
An owner or operator of a parking place or establishment, motor vehicle storage facility, or establishment for the servicing, repair, or maintenance of a motor vehicle.
A vehicle that is self propelled and:
Any motor vehicle subject to registration pursuant to the Certificate of Title Act, chapter 501, Tex. Trans. Code.
A person owning one or more antique or special interest vehicles and who acquires, collects, or disposes of any antique or special interest vehicle or part of any antique or special interest vehicle for personal use to restore and preserve an antique or special interest vehicle for historic interest.
An outboard motor subject to registration under chapter 31, Parks and Wildlife Code.
The city police department and any other law enforcement agency as defined in section 683.001, Tex. Trans. Code.
A motor vehicle of any age that has not been altered or modified from original manufacturer’s specifications and, because of its historic interest, is being preserved by hobbyists.
A garage, parking lot, or any type of facility or establishment for the servicing, repairing, storing, or parking of motor vehicles.
A vessel subject to registration under chapter 31, Tex. Parks and Wildlife Code.
(1995 Code, sec. 172.002; Ordinance adopting Code)
Any person convicted of violating any provision of this article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be subject to a fine in an amount not to exceed two hundred dollars ($200.00), and each day of such violation shall be a separate violation.
(1995 Code, sec. 172.006)
The administration of this article shall be the responsibility of the police department or such department, officer or employee of the city designated by the city council; provided that the chief of police, or such other salaried, full-time employee of the city as designated by the city administrator, is authorized to administer and supervise the procedures, sections and provisions of this article applying to abandoned and junk vehicles. Whoever is so authorized may enter upon private property for the purposes specified in this article to examine motor vehicles or parts thereof, to obtain information as to the identity of motor vehicles and to remove or cause the removal of a motor vehicle or parts thereof declared to be a nuisance pursuant to this article. Upon request by the officer designated pursuant to this section, the municipal court may issue orders necessary to the enforcement of this article.
(1995 Code, sec. 172.003)
Nothing in this article shall affect statutes that permit immediate removal of vehicles left on public property that obstruct traffic or otherwise create an imminent threat to health and safety.
(1995 Code, sec. 172.004)
The police department shall be entitled to charge and collect reasonable storage fees for abandoned and junked vehicles removed and stored pursuant to this article. Such fees shall be established by the city council and, absent the city council having established such fees, the police department. Such fees may be charged beginning the day the vehicle is taken into custody as follows: (1) for a period of up to ten (10) days prior to the date of the mailing of written notice pursuant to this article, and (2) beginning on the day after written notice is mailed until the vehicle is reclaimed or disposed of pursuant to this article. If any such vehicle is stored with a garagekeeper, the police department shall not charge an additional fee for any day that the garagekeeper charges a fee.
(1995 Code, sec. 172.005)