Posted on 09/30/2004 5:28:48 AM PDT by Arrowhead1952
DWI, lack of insurance among violations subject to new state fees, and DPS wants its money By Tony Plohetski
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Thursday, September 30, 2004
For Texans who have been ticketed for offenses such as driving without insurance and drunken driving in the past year, it's time to pay up.
More than a year after a law requiring drivers to pay additional fees for certain traffic violations took effect, state officials have begun sending letters to nearly 200,000 motorists notifying them that they should send money -- or have their driver's licenses revoked.
"It's imperative that people respond as soon as they get the letters," said Tom Vinger, spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety, which is administering the Driver Responsibility Program. "It's in their best interest to do that."
The new fees, which can be as high as $2,000 per year, are state fees added to the fine that local jurisdictions collect. They affect drivers who were found guilty or who pleaded no contest to drunken driving, driving without insurance or driving without a valid license since the law took effect Sept. 1, 2003.
DPS officials said the department didn't start collecting the money until now because it had to install a new computer system to handle the load.
The fees, which will be used to pay for programs for and improvements to Texas trauma centers and emergency medical services, were part of a plan that lawmakers approved in 2003 to combat traffic offenses and to offset the related costs.
Already, the state has collected $18 million from a separate $30 surcharge added to all moving violations, Gov. Rick Perry announced Wednesday.
Brackenridge Hospital, which received $483,349, is among several Austin hospitals to receive money.
"We are delighted," said Dr. Pat Crocker, the hospital's chief of emergency medicine. "We have lots of needs and projects we can wisely spend the money on."
In all, $67 million in fees is currently due to the state, and officials are mailing letters to drivers at a rate of 5,000 a day. DPS will keep 1 percent of the money to administer the program.
According to the DPS, most drivers owe money for not having insurance.
Under the law, the fine for that offense is $250 per year for three years. Drivers cited for driving without a license must pay $100 a year for three years.
The biggest fees will be paid by drunken drivers, who owe $1,000 per year for three years for their first offense, $1,500 for a second offense and $2,000 per year if their blood alcohol level was at least double the legal limit of .08.
Drivers must pay the fee within 30 days of the date on the letter from DPS or make arrangements to pay it, or their licenses will be revoked, which could lead to arrest and a Class B misdemeanor charge if they are later caught driving.
Drivers will not be exempt if DPS does not have their correct address; Vinger said some people may not know they owe money until they are being taken to jail.
"We don't want that to happen," Vinger said.
The law also allows authorities to assign drivers "points" for certain violations committed in Texas and other states.
Anyone who gets six points in any three-year period must pay $100. Since last September, 318 drivers have been assigned such points.
DPS will assign two points for a moving violation conviction in Texas or another state and three points for a moving violation that resulted in a crash.
Don't mess with Texas anymore.
Enforcement of the laws against uninsured driving might lead the way to enforcing immigration law. Illegals generally don't bother with insurance. They're used to breaking the law.
This is dishonest on the part of the State of Texas. If your trauma center needs more $$, let the state legislature handle it.
Relying on fees from traffic violations incentivizes the police to issue many more tickets to maximize the cash flow.
Not a good idea at all.
No joke. We have so many illegals here that don't have insurance. Many of them also leave the scene of accidents, if their vehicle is not damage too bad. Some leave on foot if the vehicle is totally disabled.
The problem with this idea is, that costs taxpayers more $$s. I don't like paying more than I am already paying.
Texas law update ping.
The other solution leads to fiduciary jackbootism.
This is criminal and someone should sue the state. It's nothing more than legalized theft.
Perry wants to lose.
I agree with him.
I hope the Democrats nominate a decent candidate.
There is a similar law is in effect in several other states according to some local news sources.
Nothing to do with sales pitches. I think there are too many "silky pony" lawyers like john edwards who are ruining our country while lining their pockets with money from frivilous lawsuits.
I really hope this results in more people fighting tickets issued by the tax collectors out there that drive around in DPS vehicles.
I have no problem with it. If you drive without a license or DUI, you are fair game.
I've been driving for quite some time without a DUI.
Okay. I made a syntax error. Never let it be said that Freepers are not eagle eyed.
If a person drives without a license or if a person drives while intoxicated, then that person is fair game, IMHO.
There is no excuse for either circumstance and both endanger the public.
Agreed. I was just having a little fun.
I have no sympathy for the DUIs, of course. Driving without a license doesn't necessarily present a danger to the public.
As long as they're not driving drunk or are otherwise unfit to drive, they're not any worse than some who do(allegedly) have licenses.
I would rather they not drive, too, but it's going to happen.
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