The Auto Dealers Detail is a self-funding
nonprofit unit of the Auto Theft Division. Auto Dealers is responsible for the enforcement
of Chapter 8 of the Code of Ordinances; The Texas Litter Abatement Act, Article V of
Section 4477-9a V.T.C.S.; and those sections of the Texas Motor Vehicle law which pertain
to the businesses licensed by the detail.
The Auto Dealers Detail has numerous and
complex responsibilities, many of which are mandated by law. Auto Dealers is divided into
specialized units based on the different laws. The division of responsibilities are as
follows:
Business Office
Auction Squad
License and Regulatory Squads
Storage Lot Squad
BUSINESS OFFICE
The business office itself is divided into
specialized functions. These divisions are:
Detail Operations Section
Reception and Complaints Section
Business Licensing Office
Salesperson Licensing Office
Abandoned Motor Vehicle Data Entry Section
Detail Operations Section
The Detail Operations Section serves as
liaison between the business community and the Automotive board.
The Automotive board is comprised of a
cross-section of business persons from the automotive industry and one citizen with no
interest in any automotive business. The board members are appointed by the mayor for one
year terms. This Board is responsible to approve, deny, or revoke any license under the
provisions of Chapter 8 of the Code of Ordinances. The board also hears appeals for
revocation of Police Private Storage Lot Agreements. The initial hearing is before a
hearing examiner in Finance and Administration. The current members of the board and their
positions are:
POSITION 1 William C. Smith - New Car Dealer
Representative
POSITION 2 Billy H. Jones - Used Car Dealer
Representative
POSITION 3 E. Dale Early - Wholesale Parts
and Accessory Representative
POSITION 4 Manuel Cano - New and Used Retail
Parts Representative
POSITION 5 Hussein Abdellatif - Service
Station Representative
POSITION 6 Tracie L. Perdue-Carter - Storage
Lot Representative
POSITION 7 James H. Anthony - Consumer
Representative
POSITION 8 Phillip A. Gebhart - Automotive
Repair Facility
POSITION 9 Tim Straney - Automobile Wrecking
and Salvage Yard
POSITION 10 Jan Clark - City of Houston
Legal Department
POSITION 11 Lieutenant M. A. Dirden, Houston
Police Department / Auto Dealers Detail
Decisions by the board can be appealed to
City Council.
Reception and Complaint Section
The Reception and Complaint Section is
responsible for answering incoming telephone calls and to greet anyone entering the
office. Members of this detail perform the following functions:
Answer all incoming telephone calls for the
detail
Greet all visitors and pass out applications
to all applicants
Review the applications when they are turned
in to verify if all the questions have been answered and administer a sworn oath to all
applicants
Enter and maintain wrecker drop lot location
list (The storage lot list must be maintained on the computer to limit drop lots to
locations which have a police contract to accept police authorized tows)
Enter and maintain 632 individual wrecker
driver's drop lot locations in the computer system
Enter all complaints received by telephone
into an Auto Dealers Detail computerized complaint system
Enter the investigator's complaint
investigation results into the computer
Enter the names of persons selling used auto
parts in the city into the computer system (all businesses that buy used auto parts must
provide a list of the parts bought and the name of the person selling the part to the Auto
Dealers Detail within twenty-four (24) hours of the time of purchase)
Dealer Licensing Office
The Dealer Licensing Office is responsible
for processing new applications for business licenses, the annual renewal of existing
business licenses, and maintaining business files. There are 5,300 businesses processed
through this section annually which generates $695,300 in revenues. There are eleven types
of licenses issued:
ARF Automotive Repair Facility
APR Automotive Parts Rebuilder
AR&D Automotive Rebuilder and Dismantler
MV&RSD Motor Vehicle and Retail Supply
Dealer
MVD Motor Vehicle Dealer
RSD Retail Supply Dealer
WJ&RSD Wholesale Jobber and Retail
Supply Dealer
WJ&SD Wholesale Jobber and Supply Dealer
SL Automotive Storage Lot
UP&UAD Used Parts and Used Accessories
Dealer
ASL Police Private Storage Lot Agreements
There are seven different fee structures
depending on the type of license chosen. Licenses are issued on a prorated basis,
therefore, the fee structure changes each month.
A person who applies for a business license
must complete an application, have the application notarized, attach a copy of his
certificate of occupancy, pay the appropriate fee, and submit to a criminal history check
before a license can be issued. A person with a criminal history must report in person
before the Automotive Board. A permanent file is maintained on each business.
Salesman Licensing Office
The Salesman Licensing Office is
responsible for processing new applications for business licenses and the renewal of
existing salesperson licenses. There are 3,000 salespersons licenses processed through
this section annually which generates $81,200 in revenues.
A person who applies for a salesperson
license must complete an application, have the application notarized, attach a picture of
himself, pay the appropriate fee, and submit to a criminal history check before a license
can be issued. A person with a criminal history must report in person before the
Automotive Board. A permanent file is maintained on each salesperson.
Abandoned Motor Vehicle Data Entry
Section
The Abandoned Motor Vehicle Entry Section
is responsible for processing "10-Day lists". These list are submitted by the
storage lot operators in order to comply with the Texas Litter Abatement Act. The
provisions of this Act requires a storage lot operator to submit a list of all vehicles
which were not claimed within 10 days along with $5.00 per vehicle to the police
department. The storage lot operator has 10 days from the tenth day the vehicle is not
claimed to complete this process or lose all right to charge for storage. The police
department must use this money to pay for the cost of notifying the registered owner and
lien holder as to where the vehicle is being stored. If the vehicle is not claimed after
the police department notification then the vehicle is scheduled for auction.
AUCTION SQUAD
The Texas Litter Abatement Act requires the
police department to auction unclaimed abandoned motor vehicles. By law, the revenue
generated through this process must be used to offset the cost of the auction operations.
By law, the auction sales receipts must be
signed by a police officer. There are two key statistics associated with this function.
There were 1,301 auctions in 1994.
There were 17,100 vehicles sold at police
auction in 1994.
LICENSE AND REGULATORY SQUAD
This unit regulates the 4,500 licensed
businesses and seeks to license over 2,000 additional unlicensed businesses which have
been identified.
STORAGE LOT SQUAD
Members of this squad have the following
responsibilities:
Review all storage lot applications and
determine if the yard will be in compliance with the "300 foot law" (this laws
prohibits someone from locating a storage lot within 300' of a church school or
residence);
Ensure that the storage lot laws are
enforced uniformly throughout the city.
