Reports to police of towing pursuant to lienholder's request.
Houston Code of Ordinances § 8-125
in effectSec. 8-125. - Reports to police of towing pursuant to lienholder's request.
(a) 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 who does not file an authorized electronic report shall make a verbal report to the police department within one hour of the time of picking up the vehicle, which shall include the following information:
(1) The license plate number of the repossessed motor vehicle;
(2) The vehicle identification number of the repossessed motor vehicle;
(3) The year, make, model and color of the repossessed motor vehicle;
(4) The name, address and telephone number of the lienholder who requested the taking of the vehicle;
(5) The state license plate number of the auto wrecker used, and the name and Texas driver license number of the wrecker driver;
(6) The location from which the vehicle was towed, the date and time that the vehicle was picked up and the name, street address and telephone number of the place to which the vehicle was taken for storage.
(b) Within 72 hours of the time of picking up the vehicle the person shall also mail or deliver to the police department a written report of the repossession, including:
(1) The information specified above;
(2) The reporting number assigned by the police department by telephone at the time the oral report was made as required above; and
(3) A copy of the court order or other legal document(s) that authorized the repossession.
(c) The chief of police shall designate a telephone number for the filing of oral reports under this section and an address for the filing of written reports under this section. The chief of police may also promulgate a form to be used for the filing of the written reports.
(Ord. No. 04-497, § 3, 5-26-04; Ord. No. 09-631, § 4, 6-30-09)
Source: City of Houston, Code of Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/houston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH8AUDEAUWR_ARTIIIAUWRSTYA_DIV2AUWR_SDAOPRURETOAG_S8-125REPOTOPULIREFetched: 10/26/2026