The people of Andrews love their city and desire for it to be the best community around. Residents and businesses insist that things in our community continually improve - things such as the quality of education, the level of health care, the quality of life, and the safety and appearance of our neighborhoods.

One way the City of Andrews is attempting to address the public's desire for safer and better looking neighborhoods is by reducing the number of non-motor vehicles (trailers & boats), Recreational Vehicles, and inoperable vehicles being stored on City streets and alleys.

• As defined by Section 42-141 of the City Code of Ordinances:
  •  Non-motor vehicles means any vehicle that is made or manufactured to be towed, pulled, or hauled by another vehicle to legally mobilize on the street, including boat and boat trailers, utility trailers, box trailers, stock trailers, trailer-mounted equipment, or wheel-mounted machinery, and excluding recreational vehicles.

  • Recreational vehicle means a vehicular portable structure designed for temporary or short-term occupancy for travel, recreational or vacation uses which can be towed, hauled or driven. Such vehicles shall include, but not be limited to, vacation travel trailers, converted buses, tent trailers, motor homes or similar devices used for temporary portable housing, but shall not include pickups (with campers) which do not exceed one ton in rated capacity and are not longer than 22 feet in length, with campers mounted thereon.

• It is unlawful for any non-motor vehicle to park on any public street or alley except for the purpose of expeditious loading or unloading of passengers or freight, or for the expeditious utilization directly related to the premises.
• It is unlawful for any RV to park on any public street or alley for more than 3 consecutive days.
• Non-motor or RVs parked for a limited period of time, for a permissible purpose shall:
  • Be legally operable and in working condition;
  • Have a valid license plate, current vehicle registration and inspection sticker attached thereto;
  • Be legally parked facing the correct direction on any public right-of-way, and allow at least 10 feet unobstructed pathway if parked or stopped in an alley for more than 10 minutes;
  • In no instance, for any period of time, shall a non-motor or recreational vehicle encroach upon an area reserved for pedestrian right-of-way including improved sidewalks, or be parked within or obstruct an intersection visibility triangle;
  • In no instance allow any contents or portion of any such vehicle to protrude from the vehicle into traffic or pedestrian right-of-way; and
  • In no instance detach a non-motor or recreational vehicle of gooseneck, fifth-wheel or similar type hitch from the transporting motor vehicle.
• Non-motor or RVs vehicles parked on private property but visible from any public right-of-way within the corporate city limits shall:
  • Be placed upon an improved surface (asphalt, concrete, gravel, chat, caliche or other approved all-weather surface). When connecting to a street there shall be placed a concrete approach approved and inspected by the building inspector;
  • Observe a five-foot side yard setback from neighboring properties; and

  • Not park in an established front yard setback in a manner that encroaches the view of neighboring properties for more than 7 days in any 14-day period.

• Section 683.071 of the Texas Transportation Code (TTC) defines a junk vehicle as a self-propelled motor vehicle that displays an expired license plat or no license plate that is:
  • wrecked, dismantled or partially dismantled, or discarded;
  • inoperable and has remained inoperable for more than 72 consecutive hours on public property or 30 consecutive days on private property.
• Junk vehicles can include aircraft and watercraft.
• TTC Section 683.073 states a guilty offense is a misdemeanor with a fine not to exceed $200.
• TTC Section 683.078 states a junk vehicle may be removed to a scrapyard, demolisher, or City site.
• Section 18-253 of the City Code of Ordinances states that each day in violation shall constitute a separate distinct offense. 

• Section 683.002 of the Texas Transportation Code defines an abandoned vehicle as one of the following:
  
  • inoperable, more than five years old, and left unattended on public property for more than 48 hours;
  • illegally parked on public property for more than 48 hours;
  • has remained on private property without the consent of the owner or person in charge of the property for more than 48 hours; or
  • has been left unattended on the right-of-way of a designated county, state, or federal highway for more than 48 hours.
• TTC Sections 683.014 & 683.016 state a law enforcement agency may auction, or use then auction, an abandoned vehicle.

• Section 42-132 of the City Code of Ordinances defines an inoperable vehicle as any vehicle not displaying a current license and safety inspection sticker when required by law for operation upon public streets. 
• Section 42-134 states upon violation, the police shall place a written notice on the inoperable vehicle allowing the owner 72 hours in which to comply… or to remove the vehicle from the street, alleyway, or public right-of-way. If not, the vehicle will be towed, impounded and disposed of in compliance with applicable state law… 

For further information, please refer to the following Ordinances:
Ordinance No. 1692, Non-motor vehicles and RVs
Ordinance No. 1335, Junked vehicles
Ordinance No. 1228 - Inoperable Vehicles