Dallas Nuisance Abatement Bill Passed – Find Out What It Does

We blogged back in October about a proposed nuisance abatement bill being considered by the city that would allow Dallas police to mark your home or business to warn others about habitual criminal activity that takes place there. The bill was proposed as part of a push to help better combat crime in problem areas in Dallas. That bill recently passed.

Here is a draft that has been released of what these nuisance abatement placards might say:

“The Dallas Police Department has declared this property a criminal nuisance under Article VIII, Chapter 27, of the Dallas City Code. If you have questions, please call DPD at [telephone number determined by the chief]; Or, if you see something suspicious occurring at this property or in an emergency, dial 911.”

The idea behind placing such a placard on a property would be to spur the property owners to do something about the crime rate on the property. Properties can be marked by police if, within a year, properties knowingly tolerate five or more offenses such as prostitution, creation or distribution of obscene material, assaults, robberies, unlawful weapon possession, murder or sexual abuse of children.

Removal of the placard without the police chief’s approval is considered an offense. The only way to lawfully have the sign removed is for the property owners to fix up the property and take steps to prevent additional crimes from occurring.

If you have been arrested or charged with crimes in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, our law firm is prepared to assist you in getting your charges and penalties reduced or dismissed.

Mike Goolsby

A veteran in both civil court cases and criminal defense, Mike Goolsby is a respected lawyer with more than 16 years of experience practicing law. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of North Texas in 1990, followed by his J.D. from the prestigious Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1994. After earning his law degree, Mr. Goolsby worked as an Assistant District Attorney for the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office. As a trial lawyer, he was able to gain exceptional access to the criminal court system in this major metropolitan area, giving him immeasurable, distinct experience that helped him build a solid foundation for his own private legal practice. Mr. Goolsby went on to practice civil law for Maverick Acceptance Group, a venture capital company. Here, he gained invaluable knowledge of the civil side of the law, adding to his already diverse portfolio of legal expertise. In 1999, he opened the doors of The Goolsby Law Firm and has been successfully serving the residents of North Texas ever since. As an attorney, Mr. Goolsby combines his experience in both the civil and criminal fields to offer unmatched legal representation to his clients. With a long list of satisfied clients, Mr. Goolsby continues to build his practice through fair and aggressive legal defense.