LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 82ND LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
April 21, 2011

TO:
Honorable Sid Miller, Chair, House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety
 
FROM:
John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB19 by Riddle (Relating to the prosecution and punishment of a person operating a motor vehicle without a license.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend several sections of the Transportation Code to create misdemeanor offenses for operating a motor vehicle without a license. An offense would be punishable by a fine of no more than $200, unless an offense was committed under Subtitle C, Title 7 that resulted in property damage, injury or death which would be a Class B misdemeanor.
 
A Class B misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of not more than $2,000, confinement in jail for a term not to exceed 180 days, or both.
 
The bill also would require that an unregistered vehicle or the vehicle of an unlicensed person that is involved in an accident with damages of $500 be impounded to be determined by a law enforcement officer or a magistrate. A person must provide proof of financial responsibility, including proof of insurance to release the vehicle from impoundment.
 
The bill would take effect September 1, 2011.

Local Government Impact

There could be costs associated with the impoundment of an unregistered or unlicensed vehicle that would vary depending on the number of applicable offenses and vehicles.
 
Costs associated with enforcement, prosecution and confinement could be absorbed within existing resources. Revenue gain from fines imposed and collected is not anticipated to have a significant fiscal implication. No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
405 Department of Public Safety
LBB Staff:
JOB, ESi, JB, TP