Fight an Austin parking citation for a vehicle that was stolen, sold, or rented
You were not responsible for the vehicle at the time the citation was issued because it was stolen, sold, or being rented by someone else — so Austin's presumption that the registered owner is the person who parked the vehicle does not apply to you.
the statement
Copy, customize, submit.
To: Austin Municipal Court — Parking Non-Liability Affidavit Re: Citation No. [CITATION NUMBER] Plate: [PLATE] ([STATE]) Date/Time: [DATE], [TIME] Location cited: [LOCATION] I am submitting this notarized parking non-liability affidavit and deny liability for this citation because I was not responsible for the vehicle bearing plate [PLATE] at the time of the violation on [DATE]. [CHOOSE ONE: My vehicle was sold on [SALE DATE], as shown by the attached bill of sale / DMV vehicle transfer form. / My vehicle was being rented by [RENTAL COMPANY] under the attached rental agreement in effect on the violation date. / My vehicle was stolen, as shown by the attached long-form police report.] Because I did not have possession of or responsibility for the vehicle at the time cited, I was not the person who parked it. Under Austin City Code §12-5-57(B), the registered owner is not liable for a civil parking citation where the owner proves — by affidavit and supporting documents — that the vehicle was sold before the violation, was operated without the owner's consent, or was stolen (supported by a police report and affidavit). I ask that this citation be dismissed on that basis. Attached: [the completed and notarized parking non-liability affidavit; bill of sale or DMV vehicle transfer form (if sold); rental agreement in effect at the time of the citation (if rented); long-form police report (if stolen); the citation for reference]. Respectfully, [YOUR NAME] [ADDRESS] [PHONE] [EMAIL]
This template is for informational use only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Square-bracketed placeholders must be replaced with your specific facts. Rules and deadlines can change; if your situation is urgent, complicated, or high-stakes, email info@imfrustrated.org for a free conversation with a volunteer attorney before you send it.
how to submit it
A few things before you send.
- 1Confirm you were not responsible for the vehicle at the time of the violation because it was stolen, sold, or being rented by someone else.
- 2Complete the parking non-liability affidavit PDF form.
- 3Have the affidavit notarized — a notary is available on-site at both Municipal Court locations if you submit in person.
- 4Attach supporting proof: a bill of sale or DMV vehicle transfer form if the vehicle was sold, a rental agreement in effect at the time of the citation if it was being rented, or a long-form police report if it was stolen.
- 5Mail, email (court@austintexas.gov), or hand-deliver the notarized affidavit and supporting proof to Austin Municipal Court, P.O. Box 2135, Austin, TX 78768-2135. Note: this affidavit does NOT cover disabled-parking citations — those use a separate affidavit and are handled through the criminal-citation process.
bring receipts
Attach this evidence.
- ✓The completed 'parking non-liability affidavit' PDF form, signed only in front of a notary (a notary is available on-site at both Municipal Court locations if you submit in person)
- ✓If the vehicle was sold: a copy of the bill of sale or a vehicle transfer form from the Department of Motor Vehicles
- ✓If the vehicle was being rented: a copy of the rental agreement in effect at the time of the citation
- ✓If the vehicle was stolen: a copy of the long-form police report
- ✓Note: this affidavit does NOT cover disabled-parking citations — those use a separate affidavit form and are handled through the criminal-citation process, not this civil non-liability process
what Austin rules say
The rule this rests on.
Austin City Code Sec. 12-5-57(B) — Liability of the Vehicle Owner and Operator; exceptions for sold, stolen, or non-consensually operated vehicles
Austin routes this through a dedicated notarized-affidavit process rather than arguing it live at a standard hearing. Austin Municipal Court's 'Show You Weren't Responsible for a Parking Citation' page states: 'If you were not responsible for a vehicle at the time a parking citation was issued because the vehicle was stolen, sold, or rented, you can use a notarized form to show that to the court' — submit by mail (Austin Municipal Court, P.O. Box 2135, Austin, TX 78768), by email to court@austintexas.gov, or in person. This mirrors the registered-owner-liability exceptions codified in Sec. 12-5-57(B): the owner is not liable if the operator assumes responsibility or is named on the citation, if the owner proves (by affidavit and documents) the vehicle was sold before the violation, if the owner proves the vehicle was operated without consent, or if the owner files a police report and affidavit showing it was stolen. A separate exception in Sec. 12-5-57(C) protects registered rental/leasing businesses that, within 30 days of notice, provide an affidavit or the rental agreement identifying the actual renter.
if this doesn’t work
Your next move.
If the Hearing Officer finds you liable, you may appeal to an Austin Municipal Court judge: file a petition with the municipal court clerk within 30 business days of the Hearing Officer's order and pay the non-refundable $5.00 appeal filing fee. To stay collection/enforcement while the appeal is pending, you must also post an appeal bond equal to the total fines, costs, and fees (Austin City Code Sec. 12-5-64).
questions people ask
FAQ.
Do I contest this at the regular hearing?
No. Austin routes a stolen/sold/rented dispute through a dedicated notarized parking non-liability affidavit process, not the standard hearing.
Does the affidavit need to be notarized?
Yes. It must be signed only in front of a notary — a notary is available on-site at both Municipal Court locations if you submit in person.
Where do I send it?
Austin Municipal Court, P.O. Box 2135, Austin, TX 78768-2135 by mail, by email to court@austintexas.gov, or hand-delivered in person.
Does this cover a disabled-parking citation?
No. Disabled-parking citations are carved out of Austin's civil framework entirely — they're criminal offenses handled through the ordinary criminal-citation process with a separate affidavit form, not this civil non-liability affidavit.
Nervous about sending it yourself?
we’ll read it over with you.
Email the situation and a volunteer attorney will respond. No commitment, no invoice, no judgment — just an honest second pair of eyes from someone who actually understands the law.
info@imfrustrated.org