Local Laws

Removing Yourself From the Appraisal District Website

August 22, 2016 by khproperties Leave a Comment

Did you know that certain types of public officials and others can remove themselves from their local county appraisal district website here in Texas? People like police officers, investigators, judges, district attorneys and their employees are all included in this list as are victims of family violence. This can make looking up property information when listing a property a little difficult, but it is a small price to pay to keep these people out of harms way. Remember, in Texas, appraisal district information is public, so armed with some basic information and a little sleuthing ability, people with a vendetta against these people could locate this information with ease. By removing their records from the appraisal district website, the information gets much harder to find.

There are currently thirty one different eligible categories you may fall into in order to have your record kept confidential. In order to do so, you’ll need to fill out a Request for Confidentiality (Form 50-284) (PDF version from the Bexar County Appraisal District website) available from your local appraisal district or the Texas Comptroller website. The Texas Tax Code is where the ability to restrict this information from the public comes from and the form is a statewide form.

To request that your tax record be removed from the appraisal district website, you’ll need to fill out the form (requires basic information – who you are, where you live, property information, and what category you fall under that makes you eligible for confidentiality) and send it in to your local appraisal district’s offices. You can find your appraisal district’s information at the Texas Comptroller site where they maintain a list of all Texas county appraisal districts and their contact info.

If your request is approved, you will be removed from the appraisal district website and be a little safer.

image courtesy of Texas State Library and Archives Commission

New Changing Speed Limits Coming to 1604

June 19, 2014 by khproperties Leave a Comment

Pilot Program to Change Speed Limits on 1604

Starting June 25, drivers on westbound Loop 1604 will experience changing speed limits thanks to new digital signs being installed as part of a TxDOT pilot program. By monitoring the traffic, TxDOT will be able to change the speed limits in 5 mph increments, depending on current congestion and average traffic speeds. The speed limits will vary from 70 mph (the current posted limit) all the way down to 30 mph. As traffic picks up and speeds begin to slow, the signs will be adjusted to reflect the new speed limits, thereby slowing traffic before it hits the congested areas and making overall traffic flow much smoother. The new signs will affect anyone traveling on westbound 1604 between 281 and IH 10. Those caught at speeds above the posted speed limits will be ticketed, so keep your eyes out for the new changing speed limits and make sure you’re not one of them. TxDOT is testing these new signs in several parts of the state to see if they think they’re worth adoption on a larger scale.

image courtesy of CountyLemonade

Move Over or Slow Down – New Changes to the Law

August 23, 2013 by khproperties Leave a Comment

“Move Over or Slow Down” Change Begins September 1st

Texas motorists will have a new reason to “move over or slow down” on September 1st, when the law changes. Previously, motorists were required to change lanes (move over) or adjust their speed to twenty miles under the posted speed limit (slow down) when approaching and passing police, fire, or emergency vehicles. Whether you decide to change lanes (must leave the lane closest to the emergency personnel) or slow down, the law is designed to protect first responders who often find themselves in unsafe areas like the side of a highway. With this law, emergency personal can avoid the dangers of speeding traffic as they try to resolve the issue they stopped for in the first place.

Starting September 1st, the law will also include TXDOT crews in the umbrella of protection. When approaching these crews, motorists should move over in order to give the crews one lane of space or slow down to twenty miles below the speed limit. This will hopefully alleviate some of the accidents that have been caused over the years, including the deaths of several TXDOT workers

So don’t forget, Move Over or Slow Down – it’s the law!

image courtesy of davidsonscott15

San Antonio, SAWS, and Water Restrictions

April 4, 2013 by khproperties 2 Comments

San Antonio is dry. We need more water. Lots of it. With our continued drought conditions, this summer could be a long one when it comes to watching our yards dry up. The Edwards Aquifer is our benchmark for all water restrictions and knowing how SAWS determines which stage we’re in and what that means to you can at least help you know when to water and how to help conserve the water we do have. There have been a few changes made to the SAWS restrictions for 2013.

Year Round Water Restrictions

Residential fountains, both indoor and outdoor are allowed.
Sprinklers are permitted any day of the week – before 10AM or after 8PM
Watering with a hose and drip irrigation is allowed any time of day.
Washing of parking lots, driveways, streets, or sidewalks is allowed, but you must not allow water to runoff.
Waste water (runoff) is not allowed at all times.

Stage 1 Water Restrictions

When the Edwards Aquifer hits 660 feet (using a 10 day rolling average), Stage 1 Water Restrictions begin. Stage 1 can be cancelled after 15 days above the 660 foot mark.

Residential fountains, both indoor and outdoor are allowed.
Watering with a hose, soaker hose, or sprinkler is allowed once a week before 10AM or after 8PM on your designated watering day.
Overnight watering is not allowed.
Waste water (runoff) is not allowed at all times.
All pools must have a minimum of 25% of their surface covered with evaporation screens or inflatable pool toys/decorations.
Washing of parking lots, driveways, streets, or sidewalks is not allowed.
You may wash your car once per week on Saturday or Sunday, but must not waste water. You may use SAWS-certified car washes any day of the week.

Stage 2 Water Restrictions

When the Edwards Aquifer hits 650 feet (using a 10 day rolling average), Stage 1 Water Restrictions begin. Stage 2 can be cancelled after 15 days above the 650 foot mark.

All Stage 1 Water Restrictions apply.
Watering with irrigation system, sprinkler, or soaker hose is allowed once a week from 7-11AM and 7-11PM on your designated watering day.
You can water with drip irrigation systems or a 5 gallon bucket between 7-11AM and 7-11PM.
Watering with a hose is allowed during any time on any day.

Stage 3 Water Restrictions

When the Edwards Aquifer hits 640 feet (using a 10 day rolling average), Stage 1 Water Restrictions begin. Stage 3 can be cancelled after 15 days above the 640 foot mark.

All Stage 1 and Stage 2 Water Restrictions apply.
Watering with irrigation system, sprinkler, or soaker hose is allowed is allowed every other week from 7-11AM and 7-11PM on your designated watering day.
Local media and online sources will announce weeks when no watering is allowed.
You can water with drip irrigation systems every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 7-11AM and 7-11PM.
Watering with a hose is allowed during any time on any day.

Stage 4 Water Restrictions

When they supply of water from the Edwards Aquifer is determined to be inadequate to meet city wide usage, Stage 4 Water Restrictions may be declared by the City Manager after a 30 day monitoring period following Stage 3 Water Restrictions.

All Stage 1, Stage 2, and Stage 3 Water Restrictions apply.
SAWS will chard a “drought surcharge” on all accounts for water used or assumed to be used for watering and irrigation. This surcharge remains in effect for a complete billing cycle and will remain if the Stage 4 Water Restrictions have not been lifted by the beginning of the next billing cycle.
City Council may also establish additional restrictions.
Stage 4 Water Restrictions remain in effect until there is an announcement in the newspaper of its cancellation.

Note: The items in this post cover residential use only, for information about commercial use of water during the various stages of water restrictions, please visit the SAWS Drought Restriction page.

image courtesy of QuietDanst

Homeowner Association (HOA) Laws Changed in Texas

March 15, 2012 by khproperties 1 Comment

So how many of you have heard about the new laws regarding Texas Homeowners Associations (HOAs for short) effective the first of the year? Many of the changes were long overdue and most Texas homeowners will be happy for them. The changes now allow more freedoms when it comes to outdoor displays (flags, religious items) and installation of environmentally friendly systems (solar panels, rain barrels). The changes also make it harder for HOAs to foreclose on homeowners because of unpaid fees and allow for foreclosure protections for active military personnel.

Many of these changes came about after the press shed light on stories of HOAs making over-the-top, heavy-handed or arbitrary enforcement of their rules on homeowners. Recent examples in Texas are the Marine veteran in Houston who was sued by his HOA for flying the American flag, a Jewish couple who’s HOA threatened them with fines over their display of a mezuzah on their doorway, and a National Guard officer in Frisco who had his HOA foreclose on his home when he fell behind in his payments while deployed to Iraq. It’s amazing we have to regulate what many believe to be common sense, but we do–kind of like why HOAs exist in the first place—to protect the interests of a community in maintaining a high standard of living and home values. HOAs have become a basic reality of community life in Texas—especially in the Stone Oak area. However, HOAs often get a bad rap so let’s remember the benefits HOA’s provide to their communities.

First, HOAs provide homeowners a level of certainty their neighborhood will remain attractive over time. Residents don’t have to worry about their neighbor parking a boat, RV, or commercial vehicle for a lengthy period time outside their home. They also don’t have to worry about bad home paint jobs or overgrown lawns. The second good thing HOAs do is provide neighborhood recreational amenities such as a pool, tennis courts, a park or playground, and community centers many residents could not afford on their own. Finally, HOAs are beneficial in providing a variety of services to their communities, including maintenance on common areas and management of the recreational amenities.

No two HOAs are the same and many neighborhoods have more than one. They can be more or less restrictive, run by the property management company or the homeowners themselves. Whenever considering buying a home in a HOA community, read the HOA restrictions keeping in mind the rules imposed on your neighbors will also be imposed on you. Most importantly, know your rights.

image courtesy of Lars Ploughmann

No Refusal DWI Enforcement

December 29, 2011 by khproperties Leave a Comment

As the new year approaches, it is a time of reflection, celebration, and, let’s face it, drinking. Last year Bexar County (and several other neighboring counties) implemented what they call a “No Refusal Weekend” throughout the year, but concentrating around New Year’s Eve. As the number of DWI arrests decreased, and late night cab calls increased, the DA’s office and SAPD figured they were on to something. Earlier this year, the No Refusal program became permanent for the city.

Here’s the No Refusal program in a nutshell:: If you are pulled over by the police and suspected of drunk driving, the standard protocol is to have you take agility tests (think walking a straight line, ABC’s backwards, etc.)and/or a breathalyzer test.; In the past, you may have been able to refuse the breath test. Now, if you try and refuse the breathalyzer, police officers will obtain a warrant for a blood draw, and you will be legally obligated to provide that sample.

Samples will be taken by medical professionals, but the whole process is not without controversy about its constitutionality. All the same, the rule stands, and it is best to be informed, and to avoid drunk driving all together. For your convenience, here is a list of local cab companies that will be available to get you home safely from all of your New Year’s festivities:

Yellow Cab (210)222-2222
San Antonio Taxis (210)444-2222
Towne Car Taxi (210) 826-TAXI (8294)
National Cab (210) 434-4444

From all of us at Kimberly Howell Properties, we wish you and yours a very safe, happy and prosperous New Year!

image courtesy of davidsonscott15