§ 2308.259 — TOWING COMPANY'S AUTHORITY TO TOW VEHICLE FROM UNIVERSITY PARKING FACILITY.

Texas § 2308.259

• Jurisdiction: Texas
• Code OC: Occupations Code

Text

Sec. 2308.259. TOWING COMPANY'S AUTHORITY TO TOW VEHICLE FROM UNIVERSITY PARKING FACILITY. (a) In this section:
(1) "Special event" means a university-sanctioned, on-campus activity, including parking lot maintenance.
(2) "University" means:
(A) a public senior college or university, as defined by Section 61.003 , Education Code; or
(B) a private or independent institution of higher education, as defined by Section 61.003 , Education Code.
(b) Subject to Subsection (c), an individual designated by a university may, to facilitate a special event, request that a vehicle parked at a university parking facility be towed to another location on the university campus.
(c) A vehicle may not be towed under Subsection (b) unless signs complying with this section are installed on the parking facility for the 72 hours preceding towing enforcement for the special event and for 48 hours after the conclusion of the special event.
(d) Each sign required under Subsection (c) must:
(1) contain:
(A) a statement of:
(i) the nature of the special event; and
(ii) the dates and hours of towing enforcement; and
(B) the number, including the area code, of a telephone that is answered 24 hours a day to identify the location of a towed vehicle;
(2) face and be conspicuously visible to the driver of a vehicle that enters the facility;
(3) be located:
(A) on the right or left side of each driveway or curb-cut through which a vehicle can enter the facility, including an entry from an alley abutting the facility; or
(B) at intervals along the entrance so that no entrance is farther than 25 feet from a sign if:
(i) curbs, access barriers, landscaping, or driveways do not establish definite vehicle entrances onto a parking facility from a public roadway other than an alley; and
(ii) the width of an entrance exceeds 35 feet;
(4) be made of weather-resistant material;
(5) be at least 18 inches wide and 24 inches tall;
(6) be mounted on a pole, post, wall, or free-standing board; and
(7) be installed so that the bottom edge of the sign is no lower than two feet and no higher than six feet above ground level.
(e) If a vehicle is towed under Subsection (b), personnel must be available to:
(1) release the vehicle within two hours after a request for release of the vehicle; and
(2) accept any payment required for the release of the vehicle.
(f) A university may not charge a fee for a tow under Subsection (b) that exceeds 75 percent of the private property tow fee established under Section 2308.0575 .
(g) A vehicle towed under Subsection (b) that is not claimed by the vehicle owner or operator within 48 hours after the conclusion of the special event may only be towed:
(1) without further expense to the vehicle owner or operator; and
(2) to another location on the university campus.
(h) The university must notify the owner or operator of a vehicle towed under Subsection (b) of the right of the vehicle owner or operator to a hearing under Subchapter J.
SUBCHAPTER G. SIGNS PROHIBITING UNAUTHORIZED VEHICLES AND DESIGNATING RESTRICTED AREAS

Legislative History

Added by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 919 (S.B. 1501 ), Sec. 18, eff. June 15, 2017. Added by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 967 (S.B. 2065 ), Sec. 14.010, eff. June 15, 2017.