Texas House Bill HB887

Texas 2011 - 82nd Regular

• Out of House Committee: 4/13/11
• Introduced: 1/26/11
• Voted on by House: 4/27/11
• Refer: 2/24/11
• Report Pass: 4/6/11
• Engrossed: 4/27/11
• Refer: 5/2/11

Caption

Relating to registration of a motor vehicle alleged to have been involved in a violation detected by a photographic traffic signal enforcement system.

Impact

The introduction of HB 887 is significant as it streamlines the vehicle registration process for owners who may have unpaid civil penalties. By ensuring that registration cannot be denied due to such penalties, the bill attempts to remove barriers for vehicle owners. This change could impact state enforcement methods, potentially leading to a higher number of registered vehicles that have outstanding fines, thereby allowing individuals to legally operate their vehicles despite the unresolved issues with civil penalties.

Summary

House Bill 887 addresses the registration of motor vehicles alleged to have been involved in violations detected by photographic traffic signal enforcement systems. The bill amends Section 707.017 of the Transportation Code, specifically stating that neither the county assessor-collector nor the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles may refuse to register a vehicle solely based on delinquency in the payment of civil penalties resulting from such violations. This provision aims to facilitate vehicle registration regardless of outstanding penalties related to electronic traffic enforcement.

Contention

While the bill intends to simplify the registration for vehicles, it may face contention regarding the enforcement of traffic laws. Critics could argue that allowing registration despite delinquent penalties undermines the enforcement goals of traffic regulations. If vehicle owners are not incentivized to pay fines, compliance with traffic laws may suffer, leading to concerns about public safety and the effectiveness of photographic enforcement systems. Thus, HB 887 raises questions about the balance between accessibility in vehicle registration and maintaining accountability for traffic violations.