Texas Open Records / TPIA Request Pre-Hearing
Tex. Gov. Code Ch. 552 (Texas Public Information Act) gives any Texan the right to request government records within 10 business days. Before any contested parking hearing, you can request: maintenance log for the meter, training records of the citing officer, photos taken by the officer, signage installation/inspection logs, and the city's parking-enforcement standards manual. Often the city will dismiss rather than respond — especially when the records would show the meter was reported broken or the sign was missing.
Legal basis
Tex. Gov. Code §§ 552.001-552.353
Sample appeal wording
TEXAS PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT REQUEST TO: City of [CITY] Public Information Officer VIA: [Email/Mail] Pursuant to Tex. Gov. Code Ch. 552, I request the following records: 1. Maintenance log for parking meter/pay station #[NUMBER] for [DATE -30 to DATE +30]. 2. Training and certification records for the parking enforcement officer who issued citation [NUMBER] on [DATE]. 3. Any photographs taken by the officer in connection with that citation. 4. Signage installation, inspection, and maintenance records for the [STREET] block where citation was issued. 5. The city's parking-enforcement standards manual. I request electronic copies. Please respond within 10 business days as required by § 552.221. Signed: ____________ Date: __________
Replace [PARKING DATE], [NtK DATE] etc. with your own dates before sending.
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- Tex. Gov. Code Ch. 552
- Texas Attorney General Open Records Division