Get Abandoned Motor Vehicle; Defined

It is unlawful and a misdemeanor for any person to abandon, park, store, or leave or permit the abandonment, parking, storing, or leaving of any licensed or unlicensed vehicle or part thereof which is in an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative condition upon any private property or public property not ...

--Any and all vehicles found to be abandoned vehicles pursuant to subsection (a) and found to have a vehicle registration and an inspection sticker, both of which are expired for a period exceeding 90 days, shall be removed immediately by the police department or by an authorized salvor pursuant to police or ...

Any vehicle or parts thereof, that is abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative, that is left on public or private property, not including highways; and that creates a condition tending to reduce the value of private property, promotes blight and deterioration, invites plundering, creates fire hazards, constitutes ...

"Abandoned vehicle." (ii) The vehicle has remained illegally on a highway or other public property for a period of more than 48 hours. (iii) The vehicle is left unattended on or along a highway or other public property for more than 48 hours and does not bear all of the following: (A) A valid registration plate.

"Abandoned vehicle" means any of the following: A vehicle that has been left unattended on public property for more than twenty-four hours and lacks current registration plates or two or more wheels or other parts which renders the vehicle totally inoperable.

There is no legal definition of an abandoned vehicle, but it is reasonable to believe a vehicle is abandoned when no owner, or anyone who claims to own the vehicle, can be traced. It can also apply to unroadworthy or untaxed vehicles that have been left in the open air.

See Section 683.002 of the Texas Transportation Code for a definition of "abandoned vehicle." If a car, truck, or another type of vehicle is abandoned on public or private property or left in a commercial storage facility, law enforcement can remove the vehicle.