DocketNumber： MW-480
Judges： Mark White
Filed Date： 7/2/1982
Status： Precedential
Modified Date： 2/18/2017
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