Tex. Occ. Code § 2303.152 : OCCUPATIONS CODE — REGULATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRANSPORTATION — REGULATIONS RELATED TO MOTOR VEHICLES — VEHICLE STORAGE FACILITIES — PRACTICE BY LICENSE HOLDER — Notice By Publication

(a) Notice to the registered owner and the primary lienholder of a vehicle towed to a vehicle storage facility may be provided by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the vehicle is stored if:
(1) the vehicle is registered in another state;
(2) the operator of the storage facility submits to the governmental entity responsible for maintaining the motor vehicle title and registration database for the state in which the vehicle is registered a request for information relating to the identity of the registered owner and any lienholder of record that is either:
(A) written; or
(B) electronic, through the governmental entity's secure access portal;
(3) the identity of the registered owner cannot be determined;
(4) the registration does not contain an address for the registered owner; or
(5) the operator of the storage facility cannot reasonably determine the identity and address of each lienholder.
(b) A written request under Subsection (a)(2)(A) must:
(1) be correctly addressed;
(2) carry sufficient postage; and
(3) be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, or electronic certified mail.
(b-1) An electronic request under Subsection (a)(2)(B) must be submitted either:
(1) directly to the governmental entity through the governmental entity's secure access portal; or
(2) to a private entity authorized by the governmental entity to obtain title, registration, and lienholder information using a single vehicle identification number inquiry submitted through a secure access portal to the governmental entity's motor vehicle records.
(c) Notice by publication is not required if each notice sent as provided by Section 2303.151 is returned because:
(1) the notice was unclaimed or refused; or
(2) the person to whom the notice was sent moved without leaving a forwarding address.
(d) Only one notice is required to be published for an abandoned nuisance vehicle.
(e) Notice to the registered owner and the primary lienholder of a vehicle towed to a vehicle storage facility may be provided by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the vehicle is stored if:
(1) the vehicle does not display a license plate or a vehicle inspection certificate indicating the state of registration;
(2) the identity of the registered owner cannot reasonably be determined by the operator of the storage facility; or
(3) the operator of the storage facility cannot reasonably determine the identity and address of each lienholder.

Tex. Occ. Code § 2303.152

Amended by Acts 2017, Texas Acts of the 85th Leg. - Regular Session, ch. 1001,Sec. 2, eff. 6/15/2017.
Amended By Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 737, Sec. 9, eff. 9/1/2005.
Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, Sec. 14A.627(a), eff. 9/1/2003.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1421, Sec. 5, eff. 6/1/2003.
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