Untitled Texas Attorney General Opinion ( 1982 )

The Attorney General of Texas
June 16, 1982
MARK WHITE
Attorney General
Supreme Court Building opinion No. NW-480
Honorable Reynaldo S. Cantu. Jr.
P. 0. BOX 12546
Austin. TX. 76711. 2548
Criminal District Attorney
512/475-2501 Cameron County Re: Whether a municipal parking
Telex 91W674.1367 Hall of Justice regulation is a criminal law
Telecopier 51214750266 974 E. Harrison Street
Brownsville, Texas 78520
1607 Main St.. Suite 1400
Dall*s. TX. 75M14709 Dear Mr. Cant":
2141742.6944
You have asked whether a municipal regulation governing parking
in metered spaces is a criminal law in Texas.
4624 Alberta Ave.. Suite 160
El Paso. TX. 79905-2793
9151533-3404 Your office informs us that citations for illegalparking are
issued pursuant to city regulations. The:citstdons are attached by
city personnel to illegally parked cars and charge their owners with
1220 Dallas Ave., Suite 202
parking in violation of city regulations. The owner arust appear in
liousto”. TX. 770026966
713/6-
municipal court to answer to the charge. Brownsville. Tex., Ordinance
Code 032-317. You inform us that these parking violations are
resolved, as are all other Class C misdemeanors, in Municipal Court
806 Broadway. Suite 312 through payment of a fine -- not rendition of a civil judgment.
Lubbock. TX. 79401379
80617473236
Under the bifurcated Texas appellate court system, convictions
for violation of parking regulations are appealed to the Texas Court
4309 N. Tenth. Swte 6 of Criminal Appeals. Snell v. State, 518 S.W.2d 382 (Tex. Grim. App.
McAllen, TX. 76501.,665 - 1975); Ashworth V. State, 357 S.W.2d 573 (Tex. Crim. App. - 1962)'.
51215824547
The issuance of a parking citation sets lo motion criminal
200 Main Plan. suite 400 proceedings against an individual who has parked in violation of the
San Antonio. TX. 702052797 local law. In our opinion, a municipal parking regulation enacted
512n25d191 under the city's police power authority constitutes a criminal law.
See V.T.C.S. art. 1175. 5516, 18, 34; art. 6701d. 927(a)(l). See
An Equal Opportwmtyl Ferally Ex Parte Harrison. 122 S.W.2d 314 (Tex. 1939); Cityof
Affirmative Action Employer Austin v. Daniels, 322 S.W.2d 384 (Tex. Civ. App. - Austin 1959).
aff'd. 335 S.W.Zd 753; City of Abilene v. Woodlock. 282 S.W.2d 736
(Tex. Civ. App. - Eastland 1955) cert. denied, 351 U.S. 925 (1956);
Harper v. City of Wichita Falls, 105 S.W.2d 743 (Tex. Civ. App. - Fort
Worth 1937, writ ref'd).
?. 1696
Honorable Reynaldo S. Cantu, Jr. - Page 2 (MW-450)
SUMMARY
A municipal parking regulation is a criminal
law.
A& Ver
hARK
truly y
WH‘ITE
rs. *
Attorney General of Texas
JOEN W. FAINTER, JR.
First Assistant Attorney General -
RIC~ARIIE. GRAY III
Executive Assistant Attorney General
Prepared by Susan L. Garrison
Assistant AttortteyGeneral
APPROVEU:
OPINION COhhITTEE
Susan ~L.~
Garrison, Chairman
Jon Bible
Rick Gilpin
Patricia Einojosa
Reed Lo&hoof
Jim Moellinger
Bruce Youngblood
P. 1697