My question involves a traffic citation from the state of: Texas, specifically Austin.
I was visiting a friend in Austin, and pulled into her apartment complex at approximately 2:30-3:00am. I parked in a poorly marked disabled space. The pavement marking was faded and semi-covered in runoff, and the vertical sign had been removed. There was also no marked aisle to indicate that the space was for disabled persons. All other disabled spaces in the area looked as if they had been restriped within the past year, and had vertical signs, though none had aisles either.
This is a picture of the space at approximately 11:30am.
I called the apartment complex and asked to be reimbursed for the tow, as they were not meeting current local, federal, or state design guidelines. They stated that there had been a rule change and that they were not required to have vertical signage, only a sign or a pavement marking. I do not believe this to be the case, but I must be able to prove it in a tow hearing if they do not agree to reimburse me.
Because of the apartment complex's age, it is not regulated by the FHA design guidelines. It is also not covered under the ADA unless the parking spaces are considered public access. Since there are no parking restrictions other than the handicap spaces, this may in fact be the case, but I do not want this to be my sole argument.
However, the parking lot looks as though it was resurfaced at one time. Under current Austin building codes, this would require it to be made accessible per ICC/ANSI A117.1-2009. I can only assume that the building code at the time of the resurfacing would have required it to be in compliance with a similar code. As there was originally a sign present, I believe this to be the case. However, I am still under the burden of proof and will need to prove this by determining a) if and when the parking lot was resurfaced, as well as b) the applicable building code at the time.
My questions are:
1. Could the parking lot be covered by ADA regulations as a public space?
2. What would I need to do in order to request maintenance records for the complex?
3. Where can I find a description building code changes for Austin, Texas?


