(a) A law enforcement agency that directs the towing and storage of a motor vehicle for an evidentiary or examination purpose shall pay the cost of the towing and storage.
(b) Subsection (a) applies whether the motor vehicle is taken to or stored on property that is:
(1) owned or operated by the law enforcement agency; or
(2) owned or operated by another person who provides storage services to the law enforcement agency, including:
(A) a governmental entity; and
(B) a vehicle storage facility, as defined by Section 2303.002, Occupations Code.
(c) Subsection (a) does not require a law enforcement agency to pay the cost of:
(1) towing or storing a motor vehicle for a purpose that is not an evidentiary or examination purpose, including towing or storing a vehicle that has been abandoned, illegally parked, in an accident, or recovered after being stolen; or
(2) storing a motor vehicle after the date the law enforcement agency authorizes the owner or operator of the property to which the vehicle was taken or on which the vehicle is stored to release the vehicle to the vehicle’s owner.
(d) This subsection applies only to a motor vehicle taken to or stored on property described by Subsection (b)(2). After a law enforcement agency authorizes the release of a motor vehicle held for an evidentiary or examination purpose, the owner or operator of the storage property may not refuse to release the vehicle to the vehicle’s owner because the law enforcement agency has not paid the cost of the towing and storage.
(e) Subchapter J, Chapter 2308, Occupations Code, does not apply to a motor vehicle directed by a law enforcement agency to be towed and stored for an evidentiary or examination purpose.
Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1197 (H.B. 480), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.
Amended by:
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1046 (H.B. 2094), Sec. 3.01, eff. September 1, 2007
Art. 18.01. | Art. 18.011. | Art. 18.02. | Art. 18.021. | Art. 18.0215. | Art. 18.03. | Art. 18.04. | Art. 18.05. | Art. 18.065. | Art. 18.07. | Art. 18.08. | Art. 18.09. | Art. 18.095. | Art. 18.10. | Art. 18.11. | Art. 18.12. | Art. 18.13. | Art. 18.14. | Art. 18.15. | Art. 18.16. | Art. 18.17. | Art. 18.18. | Art. 18.181. | Art. 18.182. | Art. 18.183. | Art. 18.19. | Art. 18.191. | Art. 18.22. | Art. 18.24.