LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 10, 2007

TO:	Honorable Mike Krusee, Chair, House Committee on Transportation
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB3888 by Gattis (Relating to the penalty for driving with an invalid license.), As Introduced

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Transportation Code to change the punishment for the offense of driving with an invalid license. Under current statute, a first offense is punishable by a fine of between $100 and $500 and 72 hours of confinement in county jail. A subsequent offense is a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine not to exceed $4,000, up to one year in county jail, or both. The bill would change the punishment for a first offense to a Class C misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine not to exceed $500. A second offense would be changed to a Class B misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine not to exceed $2,000, not more than 180 days in county jail, or both.

The bill would add a new punishment for a third or subsequent offense or for an offense of driving, or allowing to be driven, a vehicle with a suspended registration. The offense would be punishable as a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine not to exceed $4,000, confinement up to one year in county jail, or both.

Provisions of the bill would apply to an offense committed on or after September 1, 2007, which is also the effective date of the bill.

Local Government Impact

A county would experience an increase in revenue and could also incur added jail costs. The amount of increase in revenue and costs would vary by county depending on the number of convictions for the applicable offenses, the amount of fines imposed, and the amount of confinement ordered by the court.

Source Agencies:

LBB Staff:

JOB, KJG, DB