Can a private company enforce a parking violation ticket? (Dallas: law, car)

[TGentry]

My neighbor parked in a building's private parking lot last week for a meeting. From what I gather, she parked in a "two hour" space, but her meeting ran a little long. When she returned (I think three hours later?) to her car, there was a parking ticket notice on her windshield for $35 from "Platinum Enforcement Services."

I never heard of such a thing. It's a private building (open to the public), private parking lot and a private company. In other words, there is no government involvement. How can this entity require that a fine be paid? Where's the due process? How can they prove who was driving the car?

Is this just a money grab or will there be consequences if the fine is not paid.? Can they tow the car if the car is parked in the lot another time?

[justsomeguy]

Originally Posted by TGentry

My neighbor parked in a building's private parking lot last week for a meeting. From what I gather, she parked in a "two hour" space, but her meeting ran a little long. When she returned (I think three hours later?) to her car, there was a parking ticket notice on her windshield for $35 from "Platinum Enforcement Services."

I never heard of such a thing. It's a private building (open to the public), private parking lot and a private company. In other words, there is no government involvement. How can this entity require that a fine be paid? Where's the due process? How can they prove who was driving the car?

Is this just a money grab or will there be consequences if the fine is not paid.? Can they tow the car if the car is parked in the lot another time?

This happened to me once but in a different city/state. Exact same scenario. Ran 20-30 minutes over the 2-hr limit.

I never paid the fine, but I also never parked in the same parking lot again so never gave them a chance to tow me.

Nothing ever happened to me, as far as I can tell.

[derekv]

Not much risk of them pursuing this beyond the initial parking "ticket". However, Platinum owns or operates tons of lots in Dallas. I know that they keep records of parking violators and will tow and/or use a boot. Your neighbor runs the risk that they park and are towed at an inconvenient time.

[RemyLebeau]

Originally Posted by TGentry

My neighbor parked in a building's private parking lot last week for a meeting. From what I gather, she parked in a "two hour" space, but her meeting ran a little long. When she returned (I think three hours later?) to her car, there was a parking ticket notice on her windshield for $35 from "Platinum Enforcement Services."

I never heard of such a thing. It's a private building (open to the public), private parking lot and a private company. In other words, there is no government involvement. How can this entity require that a fine be paid? Where's the due process? How can they prove who was driving the car?

Is this just a money grab or will there be consequences if the fine is not paid.? Can they tow the car if the car is parked in the lot another time?

My advice....pay the $35. If they want to take it to court, do it after they pay.

Tow companies around D/FW are like the mafia and the law looks the other way. If they ever tow the car, they won't do it with care. The tow fees will be well over $200, even if they pick it up the same day.

[hbdwihdh378y9]

Originally Posted by derekv

Not much risk of them pursuing this beyond the initial parking "ticket". However, Platinum owns or operates tons of lots in Dallas. I know that they keep records of parking violators and will tow and/or use a boot. Your neighbor runs the risk that they park and are towed at an inconvenient time.

They can't be towed later for something they did earlier.