The Austin Police Department wants Austin residents and visitors to use caution when navigating around the City of Austin and parking during SXSW events.
 
For information about getting around Austin visit: https://austintexas.gov/department/getting-around-austin   
 
See street closures for SXSW here: http://www.austintexas.gov/event/spring-festival-season-including-sxsw-mar-8-mar-17
 
There will be parking zones designated specifically for the SXSW event. If you park on private property, be aware of towing signs placed at the entrances and exits of the properties. State law requires signs at the entrance and exit points, but not necessarily in front of the parking area. If these signs are up and you violate the warning on the sign, your vehicle could be towed.
 
Vehicle Immobilization Devices (Booting) are used on many downtown parking lots/parking garages. Immobilization companies must be licensed by the City of Austin Transportation Services and Austin Police Wrecker Unit. Appropriate signs must be posted at the designed entrances/exits of the lot/garage informing the public of such action to be taken. Immobilization services personnel must conspicuously wear or display the operator’s permit while performing a vehicle immobilization.

Immobilization personnel must remove the boot from a vehicle, in exchange for the vehicle immobilization fee, not later than one hour after the time the owner or operator of the vehicle contacts the licensee responsible for installation of the boot to request the remove of the boot; waive the amount of the fee for removal of a boot, excluding any associated parking fees, if the licensee fails to have the boot removed within the time prescribed.

Vehicle immobilization services must remove a boot without charge to the vehicle owner if the removal of the boot is requested before the boot is completely installed and a conspicuous notice has been adhered to the front windshield or driver’s side window of the vehicle at the time of immobilization.

In addition to the vehicle immobilization fee, of $100.00, the immobilization operator may also collect any outstanding parking lot fees, not to include any fine or penalty, from the vehicle owner/operator on behalf of the parking lot owner.
 
APD wants to remind residents that parking is limited in some areas of the city during SXSW. In addition, residents should be mindful of designated loading and unloading zones and other tow-away zones. 
 
APD will be enforcing all laws applicable to towing during SXSW. If your vehicle is in the process of being towed and is fully prepared for transport, but has not yet left the property from where it is being towed, the tow truck operator must offer and accept a drop fee of $50.00. 
 
If your vehicle is towed, the amount that a towing company can charge is $150.00 plus $25 administrative fee for every dispatched tow call that is generated.  In rare instances, there may be other labor fees added. Once the vehicle reaches the Vehicle Storage Facility (VSF), there’s an extra $20.00 impound fee and a $20.00 storage fee (both of which are authorized by state law) — bringing the total to $190.00 plus tax. After the first 24 hours, the tow company can charge an additional $50.00 for a notification fee, also authorized by state law. This would bring the total to $240.00 plus tax.
 
PRIVATE PROPERTY TOWING INFORMATION

1. If you wish to contest the impoundment of your vehicle, you must request a tow hearing. The tow hearing must be scheduled within 14 days of the vehicle being towed. Tow hearings may be conducted in any Justice of the Peace Court in the county in which the tow occurred  For additional details on tow hearings please contact any of the Justice of the Peace offices listed below:
2.  
   1. PRECINT 1: Northeast       512-854-7700
   2. PRECINT 2: Northwest       512-854-4545
   3. PRECINT 3: Southwest      512-854-6763
   4. PRECINT 4: Southeast       512-854-9479
   5. PRECINT 5: Central            512-854-9049

1. If you think your vehicle has been towed illegally within the City of Austin please call 3-1-1 to file a Wrecker Ordinance Violation and then email APD’s Wrecker Enforcement Unit at Wrecker.Enforcement@austintexas.gov with the case number provided by 3-1-1 in addition to details about what occurred.

1. GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT TOWING Fees: The City of Austin only regulates non-consent towing fees:
   1. Regular non-consent tow for vehicles under 10,001 lbs:          $150
   2. Regular non-consent tow for vehicles 10,001 – 25,999:           $400
   3. Regular non-consent tow for vehicles 26,000+:                         $800
   4. There is no longer a private property on site fee. (Example: tow truck is backed up to vehicle but has not started prepping to impound vehicle).   $0
   5. The private property tow truck is fully prepared for transport and still on site $50

**There is a $25 administrative fee for every dispatched tow call that is generated.
 
For more information about towing visit APD’s Wrecker Enforcement website:
http://austintexas.gov/department/wrecker-enforcement