The Secretary shall have primary jurisdiction to consider and resolve, after the holding of an administrative hearing, any claim of a user against the operator of a public parking area when it results from damages sustained to his vehicle or to any part or accessory thereof; or when such claim results from the operator having collected a higher rate than the one fixed; Provided, That for the purpose of adjudging damages, it shall be understood that the operator has acted as depositary of the user’s vehicle. Provided, That the filing of a claim under the provisions of this section shall not be an obstacle for a party, having sustained damages on himself, to file the proper suit before the court with competence and jurisdiction.
History —June 7, 1973, No. 120, p. 482, § 8.