This article written by Cody Permenter for The Texas Tribune talks about ending The Texas Driver Responsibility Program, which is a program where the DPS administers surcharges on the drivers' license of people convicted of driving offenses, from a minor traffic violation to major offenses like DWI and if the driver doesn't pay the fines their license can be revoked.
The program was started to help raise funds for trauma hospitals. Three Texas lawmakers announcing House Bill 104, State Rep. Larry Gonzales, R-Round Rock, State Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, and State Rep. Lon Burnam, D-Fort Worth, state that the program was created with good intentions, but is now causing a headache for many Texans.
The article states that this program has had some very bad outcomes resulting in 1.3 million Texas drivers with invalid licenses. All of this because people simply cant afford to pay surcharges on top of fines. I agree with this bill and believe this is worth reading because I know quite a few people that are dealing with these charges including myself. I am still paying on surcharges from a traffic violation years ago. Not many people know that getting pulled over for something as small as not changing your address on your drivers' license can result in you paying hundreds of dollars if you don't take care of the fine immediately. Many people I know are forced to drive with an invalid license because they have no choice but to get to school or work. Gonzales says that this has created a "compounding cycle," where people who cannot pay the surcharges continue to drive out of necessity, and rack up additional charges from penalties.
The article also states that only 40 percent of the charges have been collected through the program which amounts to $370 million, which the lawmakers say will fund the trauma facilities until 2019, thus giving the Legislature time to find a solution for future funding. I believe that even if they just continue to give surcharges to DWI offenders and not minor traffic offenders, the number of Texas drivers with invalid licenses will decrease.
http://www.texastribune.org/2013/02/07/lawmakers-advocate-ending-driver-responsibility-pr/
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