Texas § TN.25.56 - The information must be submitted not later than 24 hours, not counting weekends

§ TN.25.56. The information must be submitted not later than 24 hours, not counting weekends

The information must be submitted not later than 24 hours, not counting weekends or official state holidays, after the close of business on the day the vehicle is received. The department may report information received under this subsection to the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System on the recycler's behalf. A used automotive parts recycler is not required to report information to the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System if the department reports the information on behalf of the recycler under this subsection. (d) Not later than 48 hours after receiving motor vehicle information from a used automotive parts recycler under Subsection (c), the department shall notify the recycler whether the vehicle has been reported stolen. (e) If the department notifies a used automotive parts recycler under Subsection (d) that a motor vehicle has been reported stolen, the recycler shall notify the appropriate local law enforcement agency of the vehicle's current location and provide to the agency identifying information of the person who sold the vehicle to the recycler. (f) On receipt of motor vehicle information under Subsection (c), the department shall: (1) add a notation to the motor vehicle record of the vehicle indicating that the vehicle has been dismantled, scrapped, or destroyed; and (2) cancel the title of the vehicle. (g) Not later than 48 hours after a used automotive parts recycler purchases a motor vehicle under this section, the recycler shall, in the manner prescribed by the department, verify whether the vehicle is subject to any recorded security interest or lien. If the recycler determines that the vehicle is subject to a recorded security interest or lien, other than a security interest or lien described by Subsection (a)(4)(A)(ii), the recycler shall provide notice, in accordance with Subsection (h), to the county assessor-collector of the county in which the recycler is located of the recycler's purchase of the vehicle. (h) Notice provided to the county assessor-collector under Subsection (g) must include: (1) the information described by Subsections (b)(1)-(5); (2) the contact information of the lienholder identified by the used automotive parts recycler under Subsection (g); (3) the date on which the notice is provided to the county assessor-collector; (4) a written statement signed by the recycler or the recycler's agent that the vehicle will not be dismantled or scrapped on or before the 21st day after the date described by Subdivision (3); and (5) a $25 administrative fee. (i) Not later than the fifth day after the date a used automotive parts recycler provides notice to a county assessor-collector under Subsection (g), the county assessor-collector shall notify the lienholder and the last registered owner of the vehicle, if the recycler did not purchase the vehicle from the last registered owner, of the recycler's purchase of the motor vehicle, which must include the contact information of the recycler provided under Subsection (h)(1) and a copy of the written statement provided under Subsection (h)(4). (j) Not later than the 14th day after the date a county assessor-collector provides notice to a lienholder or a last registered owner under Subsection (i), the lienholder or last registered owner may retrieve the vehicle from the recycler at no cost. (k) A person who purchases a motor vehicle under this section that is later determined by the department or another governmental entity to have been reported stolen is not criminally or civilly liable unless the person had knowledge that the vehicle was a stolen vehicle or failed to comply with the requirements of Subsection (b) or (c). (l) A court shall order a person who sells a motor vehicle under this section to pay restitution, including attorney's fees, to the owner or lienholder of the vehicle or to a used automotive parts recycler in an amount equal to the amount of any damage or loss caused by an offense committed by the seller related to the vehicle. (m) Records required to be maintained under this section must be open to inspection by a representative of the department or a law enforcement officer during reasonable business hours. (n) A contract with a United States Department of Justice approved third-party data consolidator, pursuant to 28 C.F.R. Part 25, may be used to satisfy: (1) the responsibilities of the department under this section; and (2) the reporting responsibilities of a used automotive parts recycler under Subsection (c). (o) This section preempts all requirements that are inconsistent with specific provisions of this section relating to the purchase and dismantling, crushing, or shredding of a motor vehicle without obtaining the title to the vehicle. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 685 (H.B. 5436 ), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2025.