Sec. 2308.255. TOWING COMPANY'S AUTHORITY TO TOW AND STORE UNAUTHORIZED VEHICLE

1. (a) A towing company may, without the consent of an owner or operator of an unauthorized vehicle, tow the vehicle to and store the vehicle at a vehicle storage facility at the expense of the owner or operator of the vehicle if:

   1. (1) the towing company has received written verification from the parking facility owner that:

      1. (A) the signs required by Section 2308.252(a)(1) are posted; or
      2. (B) the owner or operator received notice under Section 2308.252(a)(2) or the parking facility owner gave notice complying with Section 2308.252(a)(3); or

   2. (2) on request the parking facility owner provides to the owner or operator of the vehicle information on the name of the towing company and vehicle storage facility that will be used to tow and store the vehicle and the vehicle is:

      1. (A) left in violation of Section 2308.251;
      2. (B) in or obstructing a portion of a paved driveway; or
      3. (C) on a public roadway used for entering or exiting the facility and the tow is approved by a peace officer.

2. (b) A towing company may not tow an unauthorized vehicle except under:

   1. (1) this chapter;
   2. (2) a municipal ordinance that complies with Section 2308.208; or

   3. (3) the direction of:

      1. (A) a peace officer; or
      2. (B) the owner or operator of the vehicle.
3. (c) Only a towing company that is insured against liability for property damage incurred in towing a vehicle may tow and store an unauthorized vehicle under this section.

4. (d) A towing company may tow and store a vehicle under Subsection (a) only if the parking facility owner:

   1. (1) requests that the towing company tow and store the specific vehicle; or
   2. (2) has a standing written agreement with the towing company to enforce parking restrictions in the parking facility.
5. (e) When a tow truck is used for a nonconsent tow authorized by a peace officer under Section 545.3051, Transportation Code, the operator of the tow truck and the towing company are agents of the law enforcement agency and are subject to Section 545.3051(e), Transportation Code.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1197 (H.B. 480), Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2005.

Renumbered from Transportation Code, Section 684.014 and amended by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1046 (H.B. 2094), Sec. 2.03, eff. September 1, 2007.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1310 (H.B. 2571), Sec. 10, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 353 (H.B. 3510), Sec. 9, eff. September 1, 2011.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 919 (S.B. 1501), Sec. 16, eff. June 15, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 967 (S.B. 2065), Sec. 14.008, eff. June 15, 2017.