SERVICE RULES AND REGULATIONS.

Dallas City Code ch. 48C, art. V

in effect

Dallas City Code § 48C-34 APPAREL TO BE WORN BY VEHICLE IMMOBILIZATION OPERATORS.

SEC. 48C-34. APPAREL TO BE WORN BY VEHICLE IMMOBILIZATION OPERATORS. (a) A licensee shall specify and require an item of apparel or an item placed on the apparel to be worn by vehicle immobilization operators employed by the licensee, which item must be of such distinctive and uniform design as to readily identify the licensee’s vehicle immobilization service and must bear the name of the licensee’s vehicle immobilization service. The item specified by each licensee must be approved by the director to ensure that operators of one licensee may be easily distinguished from operators of another. (b) While on duty, a vehicle immobilization operator shall wear the item specified by the licensee who employs the operator and shall comply with such other identification regulations prescribed by the vehicle immobilization service license. (c) Every vehicle immobilization service shall have company dress standards for vehicle immobilization operators employed by the licensee. These standards must be kept on file with the director and must include the following: (1) While on duty, a driver may not wear: (A) apparel with offensive or suggestive language; (B) cut offs; or (C) tank tops or halter tops. (2) Shoes must be worn at all times in the manner for which they were designed. A vehicle immobilization operator may not wear beach or shower thongs. (3) A vehicle immobilization operator and the operator’s clothing must conform to basic standards of hygiene and be neat, clean, and sanitary at all times. (Ord. 27629, eff. 10-1-09)

Dallas City Code § 48C-35 IMMOBILIZATION OF VEHICLES ON PUBLIC RIGHTS-OF-WAY.

SEC. 48C-35. IMMOBILIZATION OF VEHICLES ON PUBLIC RIGHTS-OF-WAY. (a) A licensee commits an offense if he, either personally or through an employee or agent, immobilizes a vehicle on: (1) a public street; or (2) any area between the property line of private property abutting a public street and the center line of the street’s drainage way or the curb of the street, whichever is farther from the property line of the private property. (b) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a) that: (1) the vehicle was immobilized on a portion of public right-of-way leased by the city to the person requesting immobilization of the vehicle, if such immobilization was not prohibited by the lease and the immobilization was done: (A) by a vehicle immobilization service currently licensed under this chapter; and (B) in compliance with all the requirements of this chapter and any other applicable city ordinance or state or federal law; or (2) the vehicle immobilization was authorized by a police officer or a traffic and parking controller under Section 28-5.1 of this code. (Ord. 27629, eff. 10-1-09)

Dallas City Code § 48C-36 IMMOBILIZATION OF AUTHORIZED VEHICLES PROHIBITED.

SEC. 48C-36. IMMOBILIZATION OF AUTHORIZED VEHICLES PROHIBITED. A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly immobilizes or causes the immobilization of a vehicle, other than an unauthorized vehicle, on a parking lot. (Ord. 27629--)

Dallas City Code § 48C-37 FINANCIAL INTERESTS OF PARKING LOT OWNER AND LICENSEE PROHIBITED.

SEC. 48C-37. FINANCIAL INTERESTS OF PARKING LOT OWNER AND LICENSEE PROHIBITED. (a) A licensee commits an offense if he, either personally or through an employee or agent: (1) directly or indirectly gives anything of value, other than a sign or notice required to be posted under this chapter, to a parking lot owner in connection with the immobilization of a vehicle on the parking lot; or (2) has a direct or indirect monetary interest in a parking lot on which the licensee, for compensation, immobilizes or causes the immobilization of an unauthorized vehicle. (b) A parking lot owner commits an offense if he, either personally or through an employee or agent: (1) accepts anything of value, other than a sign or notice required to be posted under this chapter, from a vehicle immobilization service in connection with the immobilization of a vehicle on the parking lot; or (2) has a direct or indirect monetary interest in a vehicle immobilization service that, for compensation, immobilizes or causes the immobilization of an unauthorized vehicle on the parking lot. (c) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a)(2) that: (1) the licensee is an owner or employee of the parking lot on which the vehicle is immobilized; and (2) the licensee’s vehicle immobilization service does not charge any vehicle immobilization fee authorized under Section 48C-44(a) of this chapter or any other fee, fine, or penalty to a vehicle owner or operator for removal of a boot; except that, the licensee may collect any outstanding parking fee, not including any fine or penalty, from the vehicle owner or operator in accordance with Section 48C-44(b) of this chapter. (d) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (b)(2) that: (1) the parking lot owner is an owner or employee of a licensed vehicle immobilization service; and (2) the vehicle immobilization service in which the parking lot owner has a financial interest does not charge any vehicle immobilization fee authorized under Section 48C-44(a) of this chapter or any other fee, fine, or penalty to a vehicle owner or operator for removal of the boot; except that, the parking lot owner may collect any outstanding parking fee, not including any fine or penalty, from the vehicle owner or operator in accordance with Section 48C-44(b) of this chapter. (Ord. 27629--)

Dallas City Code § 48C-38 REQUIREMENT FOR PARKING FEE RECEIPT.

SEC. 48C-38. REQUIREMENT FOR PARKING FEE RECEIPT. (a) A parking lot owner commits an offense if he, either personally or through an employee or agent, immobilizes or causes the immobilization of a vehicle on a parking lot unless at the time a vehicle is parked on the parking lot, the parking lot owner provides a receipt in accordance with Subsection (b) of this section to a vehicle owner or operator in exchange for payment of the parking fee. (b) A parking lot owner shall provide the receipt required under Subsection (a) of this section by either an electronic pay station or a uniformed parking lot attendant, and the receipt must indicate: (1) the amount paid to park the vehicle by the vehicle owner or operator; (2) the date and time the parking fee was received from the vehicle owner or operator; (3) the time when authorization for the vehicle to be parked on the parking lot expires; and (4) the location of the parking lot on which the vehicle is parked. (Ord. Nos. 27629; 27803)

Dallas City Code § 48C-39 REQUIREMENTS FOR PARKING LOT ATTENDANTS.

SEC. 48C-39. REQUIREMENTS FOR PARKING LOT ATTENDANTS. A parking lot owner that uses a parking lot attendant to collect the fee for parking on the parking lot and to provide a vehicle owner or operator with the parking fee receipt under Section 48C-38 shall specify and require an item of apparel to be worn by the parking lot attendant that is of such distinctive and uniform design as to readily identify the parking lot attendant as an employee or agent of the parking lot owner authorized to receive payment. (Ord. 27629)

Dallas City Code § 48C-40 REQUIREMENTS FOR POSTING SIGNS.

SEC. 48C-40. REQUIREMENTS FOR POSTING SIGNS. (a) A person commits an offense if he immobilizes or causes the immobilization of a vehicle on a parking lot without signs being posted and maintained on the parking lot in accordance with this section at the time of immobilization and for at least 24 hours prior to immobilization of the vehicle. (b) Except as otherwise provided by Section 48C-41 of this chapter, at least one sign must be placed on the right or left side of each driveway access or curb cut allowing access to the parking lot. If curbs, access barriers, landscaping, or driveways do not establish definite vehicle entrances onto the parking lot from a public roadway, other than an alley, or if the width of an entrance exceeds 35 feet, signs must be placed at intervals along the entrance so that no entrance is farther than 25 feet from a sign. At least two signs must be placed on the interior of the parking lot. The director may require one additional interior sign to be posted for each 50 parking spaces over 150 contained on the lot. (c) Each sign required by Subsection (b) to be placed upon a parking lot must: (1) be approved by the director; (2) contain: (A) the following information in white letters at least two inches high on a bright red background: (i) the words “VEHICLE IMMOBILIZATION ENFORCED”; and (ii) a statement that payment for parking must be made to the pay station or uniformed parking attendant; (B) the following information on the next lower portion of the sign in red letters at least one inch high on a white background: (i) the words, “Unauthorized Vehicles Will Be Immobilized at Owner’s or Operator’s Expense. Failure to Pay Parking Rate is Deemed Owner’s or Operator’s Consent to Vehicle Immobilization”; and (ii) the days and hours immobilization is enforced at the location, which may be satisfied by a statement that immobilization is enforced at all times; and (C) the following information on the bottommost portion of the sign in white letters at least one inch high on a bright red background: (i) the name, street address, and current telephone number, including area code, of the vehicle immobilization service; and (ii) a telephone number answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at which a vehicle owner or operator may obtain information to have the boot removed from the vehicle, if different from the telephone number listed in Subparagraph (C)(i); (3) be at least 24 inches tall and 18 inches wide and constructed of a rigid weather-resistant metal; (4) be permanently mounted on a pole, post, permanent wall, or permanent barrier; (5) be readable day and night; (6) be permanently installed on the parking lot in a manner and location approved by the director so that the sign is facing and conspicuous to any person entering the lot; and (7) be posted so that the bottom edge of the sign is not lower than five feet or higher than eight feet above ground level. (d) In addition to the signs required to be posted under Subsection (b) of this section, the following two signs must be posted and maintained on the interior of the parking lot in a location and manner approved by the director: (1) The first sign must meet all of the requirements of Subsection (c) of this section, except that all wording must be in Spanish instead of English and the translation must be approved by the director. (2) The second sign must comply with form, size, color, and wording requirements established by rule or regulation of the director and must include the following information in both English and Spanish: (A) the maximum vehicle immobilization fee that may be charged under this chapter; and (B) a statement of how and to whom a complaint concerning a vehicle’s immobilization or a violation of this chapter can be made, which information must be approved by the director. (e) A person commits an offense if, on the same parking lot, he posts or allows the posting of a sign or signs indicating the name of more than one vehicle immobilization service. (f) A person commits an offense if he removes or obstructs or allows the removal or obstruction of a sign required by this section to be posted on a parking lot. It is a defense to prosecution under this subsection that the removal or obstruction was caused by: (1) a city employee in the performance of official duties; or (2) the parking lot owner or vehicle immobilization service licensee or operator authorized by the parking lot owner for the purpose of: (A) repairing or maintaining the sign; (B) complying with this chapter or a rule or regulation promulgated under this chapter; or (C) terminating a vehicle immobilization service agreement for the parking lot. (g) A minor variation of a required or minimum height of a sign or lettering is not a violation of this chapter. (h) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a) of this section that the vehicle was immobilized by or under the direction of a police officer or traffic and parking controller of the city. (Ord. 27629)

Dallas City Code § 48C-41 REQUIREMENTS FOR IMMOBILIZATION.

SEC. 48C-41. REQUIREMENTS FOR IMMOBILIZATION. (a) A person commits an offense if he immobilizes or causes the immobilization of a vehicle on a parking lot unless: (1) at the time the vehicle is to be immobilized: (A) the parking lot owner signs written authorization for immobilization of the vehicle by the vehicle immobilization service, or (B) a current written agreement exists between the parking lot owner and the vehicle immobilization service authorizing immobilization of unauthorized vehicles on the parking lot and a photograph is taken reasonably showing that the immobilized vehicle was unauthorized on the parking lot; and (2) at the time the vehicle is to be immobilized and for at least 24 hours prior to immobilization: (A) a sign is posted and maintained on the parking lot that: (i) is facing and conspicuous to any person entering the lot; and (ii) displays all parking rates, including special event rates, charged by the parking lot owner, along with any corresponding day, time, and event for which the rates are charged; (B) all numbered parking spaces in the parking lot are correctly numbered and easily readable both day and night; and (C) the parking lot: (i) is in compliance with all city, state, and federal laws applicable to parking lots; and (ii) meets the requirements for surface parking lots set forth in Section 51A-4.124(a)(9)(E) and (F) of the Dallas City Code, as amended, regardless of where in the city the parking lot is located. (b) The written authorization for immobilization required by Subsection (a)(1)(A) must contain: (1) a description of the vehicle to be immobilized including the make, model, color, state license plate number, and vehicle identification number of the vehicle; (2) the date and time of the vehicle’s immobilization; (3) the location at which the vehicle is immobilized; (4) the reasons for immobilizing the vehicle; and (5) the signature of the parking lot owner. (c) The written agreement required by Subsection (a)(1)(B) must: (1) contain a clear election, signed by the parking lot owner or the parking lot owner’s duly authorized agent, as to whether the vehicle immobilization service is authorized to immobilize unauthorized vehicles on the parking lot 24 hours a day, seven days a week or only during the normal business hours of the parking lot owner; and (2) be renewed at least every two years and whenever there is a change in ownership of the parking lot. (Ord. 27629)

Dallas City Code § 48C-42 REQUIREMENTS FOR INSTALLATION AND REMOVAL OF A BOOT.

SEC. 48C-42. REQUIREMENTS FOR INSTALLATION AND REMOVAL OF A BOOT. A licensee or permittee commits an offense if he, either personally or through an employee or agent: (1) immobilizes a vehicle and fails to install at least one boot on a tire located on the driver’s side of the vehicle; (2) immobilizes a vehicle on a parking lot for which the parking lot owner does not provide a receipt to the vehicle owner or operator under Section 48C-38 of this article; (3) fails to arrive at a parking lot within 30 minutes after the time the licensee is notified to do so by the vehicle owner or operator or the owner or operator’s representative; or (4) fails to remove a boot without charge to the vehicle owner or operator, or to the parking lot owner, if the removal is requested before the boot is completely installed. (Ord. Nos. 27629; 27803)

Dallas City Code § 48C-43 NOTIFICATION OF VEHICLE OWNER.

SEC. 48C-43. NOTIFICATION OF VEHICLE OWNER. (a) A licensee or permittee shall provide the owner of any vehicle immobilized on a parking lot by the licensee with written notice containing the following information: (1) The company name, address, telephone number, and vehicle immobilization service license number of the licensee. (2) A statement that the vehicle has been immobilized and damage may occur if the vehicle is moved. (3) The date and time the vehicle was immobilized. (4) An explanation of how to request removal of the boot from the vehicle, including a telephone number, answered 24 hours a day, at which a vehicle owner or operator may obtain information to have the boot removed from the vehicle. (5) The amount of the immobilization fee and any outstanding parking fees. (6) A statement approved by the director explaining how and to whom a complaint concerning the vehicle’s immobilization or a violation of this chapter can be made. (7) A statement that the vehicle owner or operator has a right to request a hearing under Subchapter J, Chapter 2308 of the Texas Occupations Code, as amended, regarding whether probable cause existed to immobilize the vehicle. (b) The notice must be adhered to the front windshield and driver’s side window of the vehicle at the time of immobilization. (c) The licensee shall include with the notice required under Subsection (a) of this section a notice that complies with the content requirements of Section 2308.455 of the Texas Occupations Code, as amended. (Ord. 27629)

Source: City of Dallas, Dallas City Code and City Charter (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/dallas/latest/dallas_tx/0-0-0-124546Fetched: 10/26/2026