What a Texas parking ticket is

This page is about a Texas parking ticket. The Texas law quoted on this page has two separate tracks, and this page keeps them apart in two labelled sections. Track 1 is chapter 682 of the Texas Transportation Code, under which a municipality “may declare” the violation of a parking or stopping ordinance to be a civil offense and “may by ordinance” establish an administrative adjudication hearing procedure. Track 2 is section 545.302 of the Transportation Code, which lists places where an operator “may not stop, stand, or park a vehicle”, together with the general offense and penalty sections 542.301 and 542.401. This page also quotes sections 681.011 and 681.013, on parking spaces for persons with disabilities. It does not apply any of this text to any ticket. Confirm which city or other authority issued your ticket, what it cites, the amount, the dates, and the directions printed on it.

The Transportation Code text on this page is quoted from the Texas Legislature’s statutes website (statutes.capitol.texas.gov), as shown in Internet Archive (Wayback Machine) copies of its pages for chapters 542, 545, 681 and 682, captured between 9 Dec and 18 Dec 2025 and retrieved on 3 Nov 2026. On 3 Nov 2026 that website did not return statute text to the system used to prepare this page, and no later Internet Archive copy with statute text was found. A reading of the live chapter 682 page on 3 Nov 2026 matched the archived text for the parts compared. This page does not say whether a later law changed these sections.

Information on this page was checked against sources available as of November 3, 2026.

Track 1: what Transportation Code chapter 682 says about city civil adjudication of parking

Chapter 682 applies only to certain municipalities. This page does not quote the section of chapter 682 that says which ones, and it does not say whether a particular city is one of them or has adopted the procedure quoted below.

Section 682.002(a): “A municipality may declare the violation of a municipal ordinance relating to parking or stopping a vehicle to be a civil offense.”

Section 682.002(b): “A joint board to which Section 22.074(d) applies may declare the violation of a resolution, rule, or order of the joint board relating to parking or stopping a vehicle to be a civil offense.”

Section 682.003: “A municipality may by ordinance or a joint board may by resolution, rule, or order establish an administrative adjudication hearing procedure under which a civil fine may be imposed.”

Section 682.004: “An ordinance, resolution, rule, or order adopted under this chapter must provide that a person charged with violating a parking or stopping ordinance, resolution, rule, or order is entitled to a hearing and provide for:”

(1) “the period during which a hearing must be held;”
(2) “the appointment of a hearing officer with authority to administer oaths and issue orders compelling the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents; and”
(3) “the amount and disposition of civil fines, costs, and fees.”

Section 682.005: “A municipal court may enforce an order of the hearing officer compelling the attendance of a witness or the production of a document.”

Section 682.006(a): “A citation or summons issued for a vehicle parking or stopping civil offense under this chapter must:”

(1) “provide information as to the time and place of an administrative adjudication hearing; and”
(2) “contain a notification that the person charged with the civil offense has the right to an instanter hearing.”

Section 682.006(b): “The original or any copy of the summons or citation shall be kept as a record in the ordinary course of business of the municipality and is rebuttable proof of the facts it contains.”

Section 682.007(a): “A person charged with a civil offense who fails to appear at an administrative adjudication hearing authorized under this chapter is considered to admit liability for the offense charged.”

Section 682.007(b): “The person who issued the citation or summons is not required to attend an instanter hearing.”

Section 682.008: “In an administrative adjudication hearing under this chapter:”

(1) “it is presumed that the registered owner of the motor vehicle is the person who parked or stopped the vehicle at the time and place of the offense charged; and”
(2) “the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles' computer-generated record of the registered vehicle owner is prima facie evidence of the contents of the record.”

That is the statute’s statement. In chapter 682, section 682.007(a) is followed by section 682.009, quoted below, on the order the hearing officer issues; section 682.010, quoted below, on how an order, or a fine, cost, or fee, may be enforced; and section 682.011, quoted below, on an appeal to a municipal court filed “not later than the 30th day after the date on which the order is filed”. Under section 682.011(c), an appeal “does not stay enforcement and collection of the judgment unless the person, before appealing, posts bond”.

Section 682.009(a): “The hearing officer at an administrative adjudication hearing under this chapter shall issue an order stating:”

(1) “whether the person charged with the violation is liable for the violation; and”
(2) “the amount of any fine, cost, or fee assessed against the person.”

Section 682.009(b): “The order issued under Subsection (a) may be filed with the clerk or secretary of the municipality or a person designated by the joint board. The clerk, secretary, or designated person shall keep the order in a separate index and file. The order may be recorded using microfilm, microfiche, or data processing techniques.”

Section 682.010(a): “An order filed under Section 682.009, or a fine, cost, or fee imposed under this chapter following a failure by the person charged to appear within the time specified by a municipality's ordinance, resolution, rule, or order, may be enforced by:”

(1) “impounding the vehicle if the offender has committed three or more vehicle parking or stopping offenses in a calendar year;”
(2) “placing a device on the vehicle that prohibits movement of the motor vehicle;”
(3) “imposing an additional fine if the original fine is not paid within a specified time;”
(4) “denying issuance of or revoking a parking or operating permit, as applicable; or”
(5) “filing an action to collect the fine, cost, or fee in a court of competent jurisdiction.”

Section 682.010(b): “An action to collect a fine, cost, or fee under Subsection (a)(5) must be brought:”

(1) “in the name of the municipality served by the hearing officer; and”
(2) “in a county in which all or part of that municipality is located.”

Section 682.011(a): “A person whom the hearing officer determines to be in violation of a vehicle parking or stopping ordinance may appeal the determination by filing a petition with the clerk of a municipal court and paying the costs required by law for municipal court not later than the 30th day after the date on which the order is filed.”

Section 682.011(b): “The municipal court clerk shall schedule a hearing and notify each party of the date, time, and place of the hearing.”

Section 682.011(c): “An appeal does not stay enforcement and collection of the judgment unless the person, before appealing, posts bond with, as applicable:”

(1) “the agency of the municipality designated by ordinance to accept payment for a violation of a parking or stopping ordinance; or”
(2) “the agency of the joint board designated by the resolution, rule, or order to accept payment for a violation of a parking or stopping resolution, rule, or order.”

That is the statute’s statement. Chapter 682 states what a municipality “may by ordinance” establish. This page does not say whether any Texas city has adopted an administrative adjudication hearing procedure under chapter 682, and it does not name one. It does not say what hearing period, fine, cost, or fee an ordinance sets.

Track 2: what Transportation Code § 545.302, § 542.301 and § 542.401 say about parking offenses

Chapters 542 and 545 of the Transportation Code are both printed under the heading “SUBTITLE C. RULES OF THE ROAD”.

Section 545.302 is headed “STOPPING, STANDING, OR PARKING PROHIBITED IN CERTAIN PLACES.” Subsection (a): “An operator may not stop, stand, or park a vehicle:”

(1) “on the roadway side of a vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street;”
(2) “on a sidewalk;”
(3) “in an intersection;”
(4) “on a crosswalk;”
(5) “between a safety zone and the adjacent curb or within 30 feet of a place on the curb immediately opposite the ends of a safety zone, unless the governing body of a municipality designates a different length by signs or markings;”
(6) “alongside or opposite a street excavation or obstruction if stopping, standing, or parking the vehicle would obstruct traffic;”
(7) “on a bridge or other elevated structure on a highway or in a highway tunnel;”
(8) “on a railroad track; or”
(9) “where an official sign prohibits stopping.”

Subsection (b): “An operator may not, except momentarily to pick up or discharge a passenger, stand or park an occupied or unoccupied vehicle:”

(1) “in front of a public or private driveway;”
(2) “within 15 feet of a fire hydrant;”
(3) “within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection;”
(4) “within 30 feet on the approach to a flashing signal, stop sign, yield sign, or traffic-control signal located at the side of a roadway;”
(5) “within 20 feet of the driveway entrance to a fire station and on the side of a street opposite the entrance to a fire station within 75 feet of the entrance, if the entrance is properly marked with a sign; or”
(6) “where an official sign prohibits standing.”

Subsection (c): “An operator may not, except temporarily to load or unload merchandise or passengers, park an occupied or unoccupied vehicle:”

(1) “within 50 feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing; or”
(2) “where an official sign prohibits parking.”

Subsection (f): “Subsections (a), (b), and (c) do not apply if the avoidance of conflict with other traffic is necessary or if the operator is complying with the law or the directions of a police officer or official traffic-control device.”

Subsection (g): “If the governing body of a municipality determines that it is necessary to improve the economic development of the municipality's central business district and that it will not adversely affect public safety, the governing body may adopt an ordinance regulating the standing, stopping, or parking of a vehicle at a place described by Subsection (a)(1), other than a road or highway in the state highway system, in the central business district of the municipality as defined in the ordinance. To the extent of any conflict between the ordinance and Subsection (a)(1), the ordinance controls.”

That is the statute’s statement. Subsection (f), quoted above, states that subsections (a), (b), and (c) do not apply in the cases it names, and subsection (g), quoted above, lets the governing body of a municipality adopt an ordinance for its central business district that controls over subsection (a)(1) to the extent of any conflict. Subsections (d) and (e), on bicycles and on vehicles of elevator constructors responding to an elevator emergency, are not quoted. This page does not treat the list in section 545.302 as a list of every place where a local rule regulates stopping, standing, or parking.

Section 545.308: “The governing body of a local authority, by ordinance, order, or other official action, may provide that in a prosecution for an offense under this subchapter involving the stopping, standing, or parking of an unattended motor vehicle it is presumed that the registered owner of the vehicle is the person who stopped, stood, or parked the vehicle at the time and place the offense occurred.”

Section 542.301(a): “A person commits an offense if the person performs an act prohibited or fails to perform an act required by this subtitle.” Subsection (b): “Except as otherwise provided, an offense under this subtitle is a misdemeanor.”

Section 542.401: “A person convicted of an offense that is a misdemeanor under this subtitle for which another penalty is not provided shall be punished by a fine of not less than $1 or more than $200.”

That is the statute’s statement. Section 542.401 applies to a misdemeanor under the subtitle “for which another penalty is not provided”. This page does not say whether another penalty is provided for a particular offense, what amount applies to a particular ticket, or how a court handles a case on this track. Section 545.308 states what the governing body of a local authority “may provide”; this page does not say whether any local authority has done so.

What Transportation Code § 681.011 and § 681.013 say about parking spaces for persons with disabilities

Section 681.011 is headed “OFFENSES; PRESUMPTION.” Subsection (b): “A person commits an offense if the person stands a vehicle on which license plates issued under Section 504.201, 504.202(b-1), or 504.2025(d) are not displayed and a disabled parking placard is not displayed in a parking space or area designated specifically for individuals with disabilities by:”

(1) “a political subdivision; or”
(2) “a person who owns or controls private property used for parking as to which a political subdivision has provided for the application of this section under Subsection (f).”

Subsection (f-2): “A peace officer may issue a warning but may not issue a citation for an offense under Subsection (a) or (b) to a person who stands a vehicle in a parking space or area designated specifically for persons with disabilities that does not have a parking space identification sign identifying the parking space in accordance with the requirements of the standards and specifications referred to in Section 681.009(b).”

Subsection (g): “Except as provided by Subsections (h)-(k), an offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $500 or more than $750.”

That is the statute’s statement. Subsection (g) is not the whole of section 681.011 on amounts. Subsections (h) to (k), which this page does not quote, set amounts and community service for a person shown on the trial of the offense to have been previously convicted of an offense under the section. The source prints two versions each of subsections (h), (i), and (j), each version headed “Text of subsection as amended by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S.” followed by a chapter number, and the two versions of each state different amounts or hours; this page does not say which version applies. Subsection (n), quoted below, begins “Notwithstanding Subsections (g)-(k)”, for an offense described by subsection (m), which concerns certain special license plates displayed without a disabled parking placard. Subsection (o), quoted below, begins “The court shall dismiss a charge”, and section 681.013, quoted below, is headed “DISMISSAL OF CHARGE; FINE.” and provides for “a reimbursement fee not to exceed $20”. Subsection (f-2), quoted above, provides for a warning, and not a citation, where the space does not have a parking space identification sign meeting the standards it refers to.

Subsection (m): “Subsections (n) and (o) apply only to a person who commits an offense under Subsection (b) when the vehicle:”

(1) “displays special license plates issued under:”
(A) “Section 504.202 other than special license plates issued under Section 504.202(b-1); or”
(B) “Section 504.2025 other than a special license plate issued under Section 504.2025(d); and”
(2) “does not display a disabled parking placard.”

Subsection (n): “Notwithstanding Subsections (g)-(k), an offense described by Subsection (m) is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $25 or more than $200 or not more than 10 hours of community service, except that:”

(1) “if the person has previously been convicted one time of an offense described by Subsection (m) or received a dismissal under Subsection (o), the offense is punishable by:”
(A) “a fine of not less than $200 or more than $400; or”
(B) “not less than 10 hours or more than 20 hours of community service; and”
(2) “if the person has previously been convicted two times of an offense described by Subsection (m) or if the person has previously received a dismissal under Subsection (o) and previously been convicted one time of an offense described by Subsection (m), the offense is punishable by:”
(A) “a fine of not less than $400 or more than $750; or”
(B) “not less than 20 hours or more than 30 hours of community service.”

Subsection (o): “The court shall dismiss a charge for an offense described by Subsection (m) if the person:”

(1) “has not been previously convicted of an offense described by that subsection;”
(2) “has not previously received a dismissal under this subsection; and”
(3) “submits an application for a specialty license plate that includes the symbol described by Section 504.201(f) within six months after the date the person was charged with the offense.”

Section 681.013(a): “In this section, "working day" means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, or a holiday on which county offices are closed.” Subsection (b): “The court shall:”

(1) “dismiss a charge for an offense under Section 681.011(b)(1) if:”
(A) “the vehicle displayed a disabled parking placard that was not valid as expired;”
(B) “the defendant remedies the defect by renewing the expired disabled parking placard within 20 working days from the date of the offense or before the defendant's first court appearance date, whichever is later; and”
(C) “the disabled parking placard has not been expired for more than 60 days; and”
(2) “assess a reimbursement fee not to exceed $20 when the charge has been remedied.”

Subsection (c): “Notwithstanding Subsection (b)(1)(C), the court may dismiss a charge of unlawfully parking a vehicle in a space designated specifically for persons with disabilities, if at the time of the offense the defendant's vehicle displays a disabled parking placard that has been expired for more than 60 days.”

That is the statute’s statement. The provisions of subsection (o) and section 681.013 quoted above are the statute’s statements; this page does not say whether either applies to a particular charge. This page does not say which version of subsections (h) to (j) applies, or what amount applies to a particular ticket.

Paths the ticket describes (not which to choose)

Read which city or other authority issued your ticket, whether it cites a city ordinance or a section of the Transportation Code, whether it names an administrative adjudication hearing or a court, the date, any amount, and the directions printed on it.

We do not tell you whether to pay or request a hearing. We do not list winning defenses.

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US overview: What a parking ticket notice is. Contrast: What an NYC parking ticket is.

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Sources retrieved 3 Nov 2026:

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Information on this page was last checked against official sources on November 7, 2026.