
Quoting
dan71314
My question involves a traffic citation from the state of: Texas
Last month, my wife, along with my four children arrived at the middle school where I have served as a teacher for six years, to pick me up for lunch. I watched her pull up, just about two minutes after I had walked my students to the cafeteria. I then started for the door, and between the time that I left the office where I spotted her outside of the window and exited the doors on the south side of the school building, she had been issued a citation. She was in the designated area no longer than two minutes. I can confirm the two minute duration with a text that I received from her at 12:08 indicating she had arrived and the time on the ticket, 12:10. At no time during that two minute period, did she turn off the engine, leave the vehicle, or even put it in park. My wife told me that when the parking attendant arrived she told her that she was waiting for me, that she would be stopped only temporarily, that I would be out in less than a minute and that she would be glad to move if needed. The parking attendant refused to hear her rationale and handed her a ticket.
My contention is that my wife did not violate any one of the “offenses” listed under § 681.011 of the Texas Transportation Code and according to the exclusion clause within the definition of “stand” , as she halted “temporarily” for the “receiving” of a passenger.
The fine was $505. I wrote the city prosecutor and his response was that he was unable to reduce the amount or dismiss the total fine amount of $13. We were relieved, when we received his correspondence. I went to municipal court and they told me that the $13 was a mistake, that we actually owe $505.
§ 681.001. DEFINITIONS. (7) "Stand" or "standing" means to halt an occupied or
unoccupied vehicle, other than temporarily while receiving or discharging passengers.