Houston City Council has unanimously approved an ordinance that lets parking enforcement officers mail a citation to a vehicle’s registered owner rather than leaving it on the windshield, KPRC 2 reports. The measure passed on the consent agenda and takes effect next week. Windshield tickets remain an option.
Under the new process the city has 30 days after a violation to issue a citation, which is mailed to the address tied to the license plate through the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. Drivers then have 40 days from the date the ticket was written to pay the fine or contest it, in person, by mail or online. The citation must carry the violation type, the date, time and location, a photo or video of the violation, the plate number and the fine amount.
The city’s Administration and Regulatory Affairs department describes the package as a modernization rather than an overhaul, updating language on permits, enforcement technology, booting and delinquent vehicles. The city says mailing costs will come out of existing parking operations budgets with no new funding.
Lake Houston Today reported on September 23 that the ordinance was set to come before council. Kingwood sits inside Houston city limits, so the change applies to residents parking anywhere the city enforces.
