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.