Texas Occupations Code 2155.053 – Gratuitous Bailee
(a) A hotel, apartment hotel, or boardinghouse keeper may hold a person‘s property, including baggage, at the keeper’s option and at the property owner’s risk if the property owner:
(1) forwards the property to the hotel, apartment hotel, or boardinghouse before becoming a guest;
(2) leaves the property in the hotel, apartment hotel, or boardinghouse lobby before checking the property or becoming a guest; or
(3) allows the property to remain in the hotel, apartment hotel, or boardinghouse after the innkeeper and guest relationship has ceased and without checking the property.
(b) If a person checks property at a hotel, apartment hotel, or boardinghouse and leaves the property at the hotel, apartment hotel, or boardinghouse free of charge for one week without being a guest, the hotel, apartment hotel, or boardinghouse keeper may, absent a special agreement, continue to hold the property after the first week at the property owner’s risk.
Terms Used In Texas Occupations Code 2155.053
- Person: includes corporation, organization, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, and any other legal entity. See Texas Government Code 311.005
- Property: means real and personal property. See Texas Government Code 311.005
- Week: means seven consecutive days. See Texas Government Code 311.005