The 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 section.
(Ordinance 2013-05, sec. 1, adopted 8/19/2013)
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:
Abandoned motor vehicle
means a vehicle that:
(1) 
Is inoperative and over five years old and is left unattended on public property for more than 48 hours;
(2) 
Has remained illegally on public property for a period of more than 48 hours;
(3) 
Has remained on private property without the consent of the owner or person in control of the property for more than 48 hours; or
(4) 
Has been left unattended on the right-of-way of a designated county, state, or federal highway for more than 48 hours.
Antique auto
means a passenger car or truck that is at least 25 years old.
Demolisher
means 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.
Garagekeeper
means 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.
Junked vehicle.
(1) 
Junked vehicle means any vehicle that is designed to be self-propelled, and:
(A) 
Does not have lawfully affixed to it either an unexpired license plate or a valid motor vehicle safety inspection certificate; and
(B) 
Is:
(i) 
Wrecked, dismantled, partially dismantled, or discarded; or
(ii) 
Is inoperable and has remained inoperable for a continuous period of more than:
a. 
72 consecutive hours, if on public property; or
b. 
30 consecutive days, if on private property.
(2) 
The term “junked vehicle” shall include a motor vehicle, aircraft, or watercraft. With respect to aircraft and watercraft, when the term “junked vehicle” is used, this article applies only to:
(A) 
An aircraft that does not have lawfully printed on the aircraft an unexpired federal aircraft identification number registered under Federal Aviation Administration aircraft registration regulations in 14 C.F.R. part 47; or
(B) 
A watercraft that:
(i) 
Does not have lawfully on board an unexpired certificate of number; and
(ii) 
Is not a watercraft described by section 31.055, Parks and Wildlife Code.
Motor vehicle
means any motor vehicle subject to registration pursuant to the Certificate of Title Act, chapter 501, Texas Transportation Code, as amended.
Motor vehicle collector
means 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, maintain and preserve an antique or special interest vehicle for historic interest.
Outboard motor
means an outboard motor subject to registration under chapter 31, Parks and Wildlife Code, as amended.
Police department
means the city police department and any other law enforcement agency as defined in section 683.001, Texas Transportation Code, as amended.
Special interest vehicle
means 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.
Storage facility
means a garage, parking lot, or any type of facility or establishment for the servicing, repairing, storing, or parking of motor vehicles.
Watercraft
means a vessel subject to registration under chapter 31, Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, as amended.
(Ordinance 2013-05, sec. 2, adopted 8/19/2013)
The administration of this article shall be the responsibility of the police department, code enforcement officers 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 or city council, 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 section 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 for the enforcement of this article.
(Ordinance 2013-05, sec. 3, adopted 8/19/2013)
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.
(Ordinance 2013-05, sec. 4, adopted 8/19/2013)
(a) 
The police department shall be entitled to charge and collect reasonable storage fees for abandoned and junked vehicles, aircraft, watercraft and outboard motors 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 abandoned motor vehicle, aircraft, watercraft, or outboard motor 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, aircraft, watercraft or outboard motor is removed, reclaimed or disposed of pursuant to this article.
(b) 
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.
(Ordinance 2013-05, sec. 5, adopted 8/19/2013)
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 in accordance with state law, and each day of such violation shall be a separate violation. Proof of a culpable mental state shall not be required to establish a violation of this article.
(Ordinance 2013-05, sec. 6, adopted 8/19/2013; Ordinance adopting 2024 Code)