OPERATIONS

San Antonio City Code ch. 19, art. XI, div. 2

in effect

San Antonio City Code § 19-390 Prohibition against unattended vehicles in certain areas.

Sec. 19-390. - Prohibition against unattended vehicles in certain areas. The owner or operator of a vehicle may not leave unattended on a parking facility a vehicle that: (1) Is in or obstructs a vehicular traffic aisle, entry, or exit of the parking facility; (2) Prevents a vehicle from exiting a parking space in the facility; (3) Is in or obstructs a fire lane marked in accordance with this Code; (4) Obstructs immediate access to a trash dumpster; the trash dumpster or area of immediate access to the dumpster must be conspicuously and legibly marked on all sides of access with the warning "NO PARKING-TOW AWAY ZONE" (signage shall be in white letters, or other contrasting color, at least three (3) inches tall); (5) Obstructs a curb painted red and conspicuously and legibly marked with the warning "NO PARKING-TOW AWAY ZONE." (Curb markings or signs shall be at intervals not to exceed fifty (50) feet and in compliance with state law.); (6) Is improperly parked on private property in a restricted or reserved parking area which has been properly marked pursuant to state law; or (7) A fee for parking has not been paid to the parking facility if the facility has been properly marked pursuant to state law. (Ord. No. 2013-01-31-0075, § 1(Att. I), 1-31-13)

San Antonio City Code § 19-391 Requirements for posting signs.

Sec. 19-391. - Requirements for posting signs. (a) A minimum of one (1) sign shall be placed on the right or left side of each driveway or curb cut through which a vehicle can enter the property, including an entry from an alley or other property abutting the property. (b) At intervals along the entrance so that no entrance is farther than twenty-five (25) feet from a sign if: (1) 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 (2) The width of an entrance exceeds thirty-five (35) feet. (c) Each sign must conform to the minimum requirements as required by state law. (d) Each sign must be posted in a manner and location so that the signs are facing and conspicuous to the driver of a vehicle entering the property. (e) Upon review by the chief of police or his designee, a parking facility causing tows under this chapter may be required to install additional signage in order to correct problems associated with conformity of signage due to parking facility layout. (Ord. No. 2013-01-31-0075, § 1(Att. I), 1-31-13)

San Antonio City Code § 19-392 Information and data to be kept and maintained two (2) years; records to be made available for inspection.

Sec. 19-392. - Information and data to be kept and maintained two (2) years; records to be made available for inspection. Each tow truck company shall maintain at the business office information and data on his towing company business and operations. The following specific requirements are hereby prescribed: Accurate records, reports, receipts and other operating information and data as may be required by the director shall be kept and maintained in a business office located in Bexar County for at least two (2) years after date, and all such documents shall be made available at a place readily accessible for examination and copying at all reasonable times by the department or a peace officer upon request. (Ord. No. 2013-01-31-0075, § 1(Att. I), 1-31-13)

San Antonio City Code § 19-393 Vehicle storage facility's and towing company's duty to report after towing or accepting a lawfully repossessed or towed vehicle.

Sec. 19-393. - Vehicle storage facility's and towing company's duty to report after towing or accepting a lawfully repossessed or towed vehicle. (a) Whenever any vehicle is removed from private property without the consent of the vehicle owner or a lienholder, a control number must be requested from the department within forty-five (45) minutes of the vehicle leaving the property by reporting the following information to the department: (1) A general description, including the year, make, model, and color; (2) The state and number of the vehicle's license plate, if any; (3) The vehicle identification number; (4) The date and time of the tow as well as the location from which the vehicle would have been towed; (5) The name of the company towing the vehicle; (6) The name of the person or entity authorizing the tow and a valid contact phone number; and (7) The name of the vehicle storage facility to which the vehicle has been or will be taken. (b) Whenever any person tows, carries, transports or otherwise takes a motor vehicle pursuant to a request by a lienholder incident to a lawful repossession, the person so taking the vehicle shall, within forty-five (45) minutes of taking possession, report to the department: (1) A general description of the vehicle, including the year, make, model, and color; (2) The state and number of the vehicle's license plate, if any; (3) The vehicle identification number of the vehicle; (4) The date and time of tow as well as the location from which the vehicle was towed; (5) The name of the company towing the vehicle, the name and state department of licensing and regulation number issued to the driver of the tow truck driver doing the tow, and the name and location where the vehicle is being stored; and (6) The name, title and phone number of the lienholder causing the vehicle to be repossessed. (c) The required report must be made by telephone, by facsimile, other electronic device, or delivered personally to the department. (Ord. No. 2013-01-31-0075, § 1(Att. I), 1-31-13)

San Antonio City Code § 19-394 Claimed vehicles.

Sec. 19-394. - Claimed vehicles. (a) When a storage facility acquires possession of a private property non-consent towed motor vehicle, the storage facility is entitled to: (1) Towing charges, if applicable; (2) Impound fees when authorized by state law; (3) Storage fees as allowed by state law; and (4) Notification charges. (b) A vehicle storage facility must notify owners or operators of vehicles: (1) What methods of payments are accepted; (2) The location from which the vehicle may be retrieved; (3) The total amount of charges if the vehicle is picked up the same day as the call; (4) Procedures for civil recourse as provided in V.T.C.A., Occupations Code §§ 2308.452 and 2308.455; and (5) Procedures for filing complaints with the state department of licensing and regulation. (c) A towing company that removes or is in the process of removing a vehicle from a parking facility, upon request of the vehicle owner or operator, shall provide the owner or operator an explanation of the reason for removing the vehicle from the parking facility. (Ord. No. 2013-01-31-0075, § 1(Att. I), 1-31-13)

San Antonio City Code § 19-395 Disposition of unclaimed vehicles.

Sec. 19-395. - Disposition of unclaimed vehicles. Unclaimed vehicles may be sold at a public auction by an auctioneer licensed by the state department of licensing and regulation. (Ord. No. 2013-01-31-0075, § 1(Att. I), 1-31-13)

San Antonio City Code § 19-396 Removing wrecked or abandoned vehicles on public streets, ways or other public property.

Sec. 19-396. - Removing wrecked or abandoned vehicles on public streets, ways or other public property. (a) In the interest of public safety, it shall be unlawful for any person or towing company, on the public street and ways of the city to knowingly respond for the purpose of moving, towing, hauling, debris or hazardous material cleanup, or otherwise transport in, on or over the public streets and ways of the city any vehicle which has been involved in a collision on a public street, way or other public property, whether or not removed to private property following the collision, or any vehicle that requires towing and is on a public street, way or other public property, unless directed to do so by the chief of police or his designee. (b) In city parking lots or facilities, the city parking manager or his designee, the chief of police or his designee may impound or relocate to another location on the lot or facility, any vehicle that is blocking an entrance, exit, fire lane or otherwise obstructing access. Any charge for relocation shall be assessed against the vehicle owner. Any vehicle not authorized to be parked at a city facility shall be removed at the direction of the city parking manager or his designee. (c) Other motor vehicles on public streets, ways or public property may be removed only with the express consent of the owner or operator, in compliance with V.T.C.A., Occupations Code § 2308.351 or at the direction of the director or his designee. (d) Any owner of a vehicle whose vehicle has been towed from a public way, street or property at the direction of the chief of police or his designee, where it was necessary for the department to incur expense for the cleanup of hazardous waste and/or material, the owner of said vehicle shall be responsible for payment of the cost associated with the clean up. (e) The department shall have the right to retain any vehicle, to include but not limited to tractors and trailers, in its possession which belongs to said vehicle owner until the payment for all charges associated with the towing of the vehicle, to include but not limited to recovery and clean up fees, have been paid. (Ord. No. 2013-01-31-0075, § 1(Att. I), 1-31-13)

San Antonio City Code § 19-397 Reserved.

San Antonio City Code § 19-398 Authority to inspect.

Sec. 19-398. - Authority to inspect. The department may inspect a vehicle storage facility, tow truck or towing company to determine whether they are in compliance with this article and other applicable law. (Ord. No. 2013-01-31-0075, § 1(Att. I), 1-31-13)

San Antonio City Code § 19-399 Amount of insurance.

Sec. 19-399. - Amount of insurance. The public liability and property damage insurance required by this chapter shall be the minimum amount required by the state. (Ord. No. 2013-01-31-0075, § 1(Att. I), 1-31-13)

San Antonio City Code § 19-400 Disposition of property left in towed vehicles.

Sec. 19-400. - Disposition of property left in towed vehicles. Upon request of an individual demonstrating ownership or right to possession of a vehicle, a vehicle storage facility shall give that individual access to a vehicle in the facility and allow removal of any personal property left in the towed vehicle, unless otherwise indicated by a law enforcement officer. All such personal property must be surrendered to the property owner regardless of whether or not any or all fees associated with the towing or storage of the vehicle have been paid. "Personal property" for purposes of this section refers to property in the vehicle which is not permanently affixed to the vehicle. The vehicle storage facility must request a receipt from the person to whom the personal property is released for any such property removed from the stored vehicle. Nothing in this provision is intended to conflict with the provisions of 16 Tex. Admin. Code § 85.708 (Ord. No. 2013-01-31-0075, § 1(Att. I), 1-31-13)

Source: City of San Antonio, City Code, City Charter and Unified Development Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/san_antonio/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICO_CH19MOVETR_ARTXIWRSE_DIV2OPFetched: 10/27/2026