WHAT DOES THE “POWER OF ATTORNEY” SIGN MEAN?

The Power of Attorney authority gives the Galveston Police Department permission to arrest and file charges on behalf of the property owner against anyone found illegally trespassing on the property when the owner is not present.

For example, if a group of kids decides to use the house without permission, police officers often need the owner to approve taking action. Police officers cannot take action without contacting the owner to get authorization to act against the trespassers. This hobbles the police's ability to resolve a matter. The owners aren’t there and probably will not be available.

Further, the owners must then be available for court proceedings that will occur quickly after the arrest. Owners are again normally unavailable. The power of attorney allows the police to stand in for the owner in court proceedings.

WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH A RENTER?
If, on arrival you find kids using the home you rented, the police can respond and get you into the rental as soon as possible. You would call the rental company, which would call Galveston Police. Responding officers can immediately take the miscreants into custody and get you into the home.