Hallsville Abandonment of Airtight or Semi-Airtight Containers ordinance (§ 210.520)
Chapter 210: Offenses · Article IV. Offenses Concerning Public Safety
In short: You may not knowingly abandon, discard or leave an old refrigerator, icebox or similar airtight container (1 1/2 cubic feet or larger, with an opening of 50 square inches or more) where children can reach it unless you first remove its hinges, latches or other hardware that could trap someone. Dealers, warehouse operators and repair people are exempt in their part of a building.
Our plain-English summary, not the official text or legal advice. The ordinance below is what counts.
A. A person commits the offense of abandonment of an airtight or semi-airtight container if he or she knowingly abandons, discards, or permits to remain on premises under his or her control, in a place accessible to children, any abandoned or discarded icebox, refrigerator, or other airtight or semi- airtight container which has a capacity of one and one-half (1 1/2) cubic feet or more and an opening of fifty (50) square inches or more and which has a door or lid equipped with hinge, latch or other fastening device capable of securing such door or lid, without rendering such equipment harmless to human life by removing such hinges, latches or other hardware which may cause a person to be confined therein.
B. Subsection (A) of this Section does not apply to an icebox, refrigerator or other airtight or semi- airtight container located in that part of a building occupied by a dealer, warehouse operator or repair person.
C. The defendant shall have the burden of injecting the issue under Subsection (B) of this Section.
D. The offense of abandonment of an airtight or semi-airtight container is an ordinance violation.
Official source: City of Hallsville official Code of Ordinances (online), § 210.520
Last checked November 1, 2026. The city's official copy controls; this page is a reading copy, not legal advice.