Title 16 ECONOMIC REGULATION
Part 4 TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATION
Chapter 86 VEHICLE TOWING AND BOOTING
Rule §86.450 Inspections--General
(a) Towing companies shall be inspected in accordance with Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 51, and the inspection rules under 16 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 60, Subchapter H.
(b) The department may make information available to licensees and managers regarding best practices for risk-reduction techniques. Source Note:The provisions of this §86.450 adopted to be effective April 15, 2008, 33 TexReg 2940 ; amended to be effective January 15, 2018, 43 TexReg 90; amended to be effective January 15, 2023, 48 TexReg 40
Title 16 ECONOMIC REGULATION
Part 4 TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATION
Chapter 86 VEHICLE TOWING AND BOOTING
Rule §86.455 Private Property Tow Fees
(a) For purposes of this section:
(1) light-duty means the tows of motor vehicles with a gross weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less;
(2) medium-duty means the tows of motor vehicles with a gross weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds, but less than 25,000 pounds;
(3) heavy-duty means the tows of motor vehicles with a gross weight rating that exceeds 25,000 pounds; and
(4) drop charge means the maximum that may be charged for the release of the vehicle before its removal from the property or parked location.
(b) The maximum amount that may be charged for private property tows is as follows:
(1) light-duty tows--$272;
(2) medium-duty tows--$380; and
(3) heavy-duty tows--$489 per unit or a maximum of $978.
(c) If the owner, authorized operator, or authorized agent of the owner of a motor vehicle that is parked without the authorization of the property owner attempts to retrieve the motor vehicle before its removal from the property or parked location, the maximum amount that may be charged for a drop charge (if the motor vehicle is hooked up) is:
(1) light duty tows--$135;
(2) medium duty tows--$190; and
(3) heavy duty tows--$244.
(d) If an owner, authorized operator, or authorized agent of the owner of a motor vehicle is present before the removal from the property or parked location the towing operator shall advise the owner, authorized operator, or authorized agent of the owner of a motor vehicle that he or she may offer payment of the towing drop charge.
(e) For purposes of this section, a tow company must accept cash, credit cards and debit cards as payment for the drop charge. Source Note:The provisions of this §86.455 adopted to be effective September 1, 2010, 35 TexReg 7788; amended to be effective January 16, 2012, 37 TexReg 116; amended to be effective March 1, 2015, 40 TexReg 701; amended to be effective November 1, 2021, 46 TexReg 7400
Title 16 ECONOMIC REGULATION
Part 4 TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATION
Chapter 86 VEHICLE TOWING AND BOOTING
Rule §86.458 Fees for Nonconsent Tows, Refunds
(a) A license or permit holder may not charge a fee for a nonconsent tow that is greater than a nonconsent tow established under Texas Occupations Code, §2308.2065.
(b) A license or permit holder may not charge a fee for a service related to a nonconsent tow that is not included in the list of fees established under Texas Occupations Code, §2308.2065.
(c) The department may require a license or permit holder to refund to a vehicle owner or operator the amount charged to the owner or operator in excess of the amounts established by Texas Occupations Code. Source Note:The provisions of this §86.458 adopted to be effective January 16, 2012, 37 TexReg 116
Title 16 ECONOMIC REGULATION
Part 4 TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATION
Chapter 86 VEHICLE TOWING AND BOOTING
Rule §86.705 Responsibilities of Towing Company--Standards of Conduct
(a) Except for signs required by Texas Occupations Code, §2308.301, a towing company may not directly or indirectly give anything of value to a parking facility owner in connection with the removal of a vehicle from a parking facility.
(b) A towing company may not have a direct or indirect monetary interest in a parking facility from which the towing company for compensation removes unauthorized vehicles.
(c) A towing company may not tow a vehicle to a vehicle storage facility unless the vehicle storage facility is in compliance with the required postings in Texas Occupations Code, §2308.207.
(d) A towing company may not remove and store an unauthorized vehicle unless authorized by Texas Occupations Code, §2308.255.
(e) A towing company may not perform a nonconsent tow unless the property from which the vehicle is towed is in compliance with Texas Occupations Code, §§2308.301-2308.305.
(f) Except as authorized by Texas Occupations Code, §§2308.351-2308.354, a towing company may not perform a nonconsent tow from:
(1) a leased right-of-way;
(2) an area between a parking facility and a public right-of-way;
(3) a public right-of-way; or
(4) a public roadway.
(g) A towing company may not contract for the removal from a parking facility of a vehicle that does not display an unexpired license plate or registration insignia or a valid inspection certificate, unless the towing company notes on the tow ticket the:
(1) name of the person or company that authorized the tow;
(2) telephone number of the company or person that authorized the tow; and
(3) date of compliance with the notice provisions in Texas Occupations Code, §2308.253(e).
(h) A towing company or towing operator may not charge a fee for a nonconsent tow that is greater than the fee listed in the schedule most recently submitted to the department.
(i) A towing company or towing operator may not charge a fee related to a nonconsent tow that is not listed in the schedule most recently submitted to the department.
(j) A towing company may not charge a fee for a nonconsent tow that is greater than the statewide fee or nonconsent tow fee authorized by Texas Occupations Code, §2308.2065.
(k) A towing company may not charge a fee related to a nonconsent tow unless that fee is authorized by the statewide fee or nonconsent tow fees authorized by Texas Occupations Code, §2308.2065.
(l) A towing company must keep record of every nonconsent tow including, but not limited to, the following information:
(1) vehicle description, including license or vehicle identification number, if available;
(2) a statement describing the reason for towing the vehicle;
(3) location vehicle towed from; and
(4) vehicle storage location.
(m) A towing company may not employ or contract with unlicensed persons required to hold a license under this chapter.
(n) Relocation from one area of a parking facility to another area on the same parking facility may occur if:
(1) Except in case of an emergency involving threat of imminent danger to property, signs complying with this section are installed in the parking facility a minimum of 72 hours preceding relocation.
(2) Each sign required under this subsection may be temporary and must:
(A) be mounted on a pole, post, wall or freestanding board;
(B) be at least 18 inches wide and 24 inches tall; and
(C) be installed so that the bottom edge of the sign is no lower than 6 inches and no higher than 6 feet above ground level.
(3) Each sign required under this subsection must contain:
(A) a red international tow symbol on a white background;
(B) a statement designating the areas which are temporary no parking areas and stating that vehicles parked in the designated area will be relocated to another location on the same parking facility; and
(C) the location where vehicles will be relocated, if known, or a telephone number, including area code, that is answered 24 hours a day to identify the location of a relocated vehicle.
(4) Each required sign must face and be conspicuously visible to a driver that enters the area of the parking facility from which vehicles will be relocated.
(5) Each required sign must be located:
(A) on the right or left of each driveway or curb-cut through which a vehicle can enter the area subject to relocation, including an entry from an alley abutting the facility; or
(B) at intervals along the entrance to the area subject to relocation 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 the area of a parking facility subject to relocation; and
(ii) the width of an entrance to an area of relocation exceeds 35 feet.
(o) Upon request, the parking facility owner or agent must provide the contact information for the tow company responsible for the relocation.
(p) A peace officer is authorized to direct the relocation of a vehicle from one location on a parking facility to another location on the parking facility to further public safety. Source Note:The provisions of this §86.705 adopted to be effective April 15, 2008, 33 TexReg 2940; amended to be effective May 3, 2010, 35 TexReg 3486; amended to be effective January 16, 2012, 37 TexReg 116; amended to be effective February 15, 2019, 44 TexReg 586