City of Southlake

Police Staff & FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions about legal issues in Southlake, including sex offender locations, fireworks laws, solicitors permits, scooter ordinance, and drivers license questions.

Staff

NAME	TITLE	PHONE
Robert Finn - contact	Police Chief	817-748-8347
Russell Daniels	Deputy Chief	817-748-8133
Ben Brown	Lieutenant- Prof. Standards	817-748-8207
Mike Dunn	Interim Lieutenant- Patrol	817-748-8134
Ashleigh Douglas	Lieutenant- Crim. Investigations	817-748-8122
Michael Bedrich	Sergeant Community Initiatives	817-748-8137
Ronnie White	Field Services (Animal Control)	817-748-8336
Melissa Mensch	Office Assistant	817-748-8114

FAQs

How do I know what the law says about a particular subject?

We have all heard that ignorance of the law is no excuse, so how does someone find out about a particular law? Check the links below to find information on our laws:

• Texas Law
• Federal Law
• Southlake City Code

How do I obtain information on registered sex offenders?

The Texas Department of Public Safety has a search area for Registered Sex Offenders on their website. You can search for a specific offender by name, zip code, or city. Remember, the City of Southlake spans two zip code areas: 76092 and 76262. Click Crime Records Search and follow the sex offender links. Any person can access information and photographs on this website.

Are motorized scooters legal?

Gasoline powered scooters and bikes over 40cc are classified as motor vehicles and are thus illegal to operate on sidewalks or trails. To be driven on city streets, they must be operated by a driver who has a driver’s license and proof of minimum liability insurance. Additionally, the bike/scooter must be registered, display a license plate, and display a valid inspection sticker.

If the license, registration, inspection, and insurance requirements are not met (such as with dirt bikes), then those vehicles may not be driven on the street. They may, however, be driven on private property;remember that they cannot be ridden to and from on city streets or sidewalks. To ride on private property, you must be the property owner, his family, or have permission by the property owner. If the property area is the common area of a neighborhood association or other person's private property, the association or owner must have given specific permission to ride these bikes there.

Many dirt bikes will also violate the city noise ordinance if ridden on private property if near other residences. The noise ordinance prohibits the bike exceeding 60 decibels during the day and 55 decibels at night or on Sundays.

Electric and gasoline powered scooters under 40cc are currently classified as Motor Assisted Scooters. If a scooter is electric or gas powered under 40cc, it is legal on any street where the speed limit is less than 35 mph and on sidewalks.These motor assisted scooters must obey the rules of the road and must comply with all traffic control devices; that is they must stop at stop signs, drive on the right side, yield right of way, etc. The law does not require a driver's license, registration, inspection, and insurance to operate these vehicles.

A proposed City Ordinance is still under review. The future ordinance will likely prohibit the following:

• Any use of Motor Assisted Scooters on streets after dark.

• Any use without a helmet.

• Operation on streets by children who do not have a driver's license.

One still unresolved question is whether children are going to be allowed to ride only on City trails or on any sidewalk. Trails are those along major roadways and are generally at least 6 feet wide. The ordinance may eventually go to council, although the timing is uncertain.

Can we shoot fireworks in Southlake?

No. It is illegal to sell, possess, use, fire, discharge, cast, throw or explode any firework within the Southlake city limits (and the Corps of Engineers property around Lake Grapevine). It is also illegal to manufacture, exhibit, possess for sale, sell or offer for sale, any fireworks within the city limits; the same goes for the area outside the city limits for a distance of 5,000 feet, provided that the territory encompassed within the 5,000 feet is not within the extraterritorial jurisdiction or corporate limits of another municipality.

Around New Years and the Fourth of July, the police are flooded with complaints about fireworks being discharged. Most callers are concerned about the noise and fire risk. Southlake police officers respond to these complaints and issue citations; fireworks are confiscated and destroyed. Since fireworks can be expensive, please find a legal area outside Southlake to use your fireworks. Any county wide burn bans will be posted on the county website. It would be prudent to check this web page before venturing out to discharge fireworks. Law enforcement agencies have zero tolerance for fireworks violations due to the significant fire risk.

As a service to our community, the City of Southlake presents a fireworks show during the week of July 4th, with times and location advertised through print media, as well as the City webpage. Families from across the Metroplex have enjoyed attending this festivity in lieu of dealing with regulations on personal fireworks use.

How do I obtain an alarm permit?

An Application for alarm permit can be downloaded here. For approval and issuance, the form needs to be completed and mailed with the required fee to:

 City of Southlake,
Attn: Finance Administration
1400 Main Street, Suite 440
Southlake, TX 76092

If you have any questions regarding alarm permit fees and/or billing, please contact Shannon Berry at 817-748-8314 or email.

Where do I go to pay a traffic ticket?

Traffic citations are paid at the Southlake Municipal Court Office, located at the new DPS Headquarters building, 600 State Street. Court offices are located on the ground floor of the building.

Does Southlake regulate solicitors?

Yes. Individuals who are making personal contact with residents for the purpose of selling goods or services must display a Solicitor's Permit issued by the City. Those permits are issued through the Southlake Police, who runs a criminal history check on permit applicants. Applicants with serious criminal records are declined a permit.

Individuals granted a permit must wear it on their outer clothing when soliciting. No soliciting is allowed before 9:00 am or after 9:00 pm each day. Minors who are soliciting for school or church fund raisers must also register, but only one of their sponsors needs to obtain a permit. All kids working under that sponsor are still required to wear a nametag that identifies them and their organization.

Individuals who are just leaving advertising handbills and are not making personal contact are not regulated. Permits cannot be required for individuals who are making personal contact for purposes of political or religious support or recruitment.

If a solicitor appears at your door, ask to see their permit if it's not prominently displayed. If one is not provided or if the solicitor is in any way rude, discourteous, or otherwise suspicious, call the police dispatch center and an officer will respond to investigate the situation. The Chief of Police can suspend permits if certain aggravated conditions exist.

Is this where I get my drivers license renewed?

No, drivers license transactions are handled by the Texas Department of Public Safety. To renew online or get more information please visit this website.

The two State DPS facilities closest to Southlake are located in either Hurst or Lewisville:

Hurst Office
624 Northeast Loop 820
(817) 299-1300

Lewisville Office
190 N. Valley Pkwy #201
(972) 221-8081.

A list of Texas DPS locations (broken down by county) can be accessed here.