Honorable Joseph Pickett, Chair, House Committee On Homeland Security & Public Safety
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1216 by Craddick (relating to the penalty for the offense of reckless driving.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Transportation Code to increase the penalty for reckless driving to a Class B misdemeanor offense punishable by a fine of not more than $2,000, confinement in jail for a term not to exceed 180 days, or both. A person commits an offense if the person drives a vehicle in wilful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. A court may order the driver’s license of a person convicted of an offense to be suspended for 30 to 180 days and require the person to attend and complete an approved driving safety course before reinstatement of the driver’s license. A person may be prosecuted for an offense under both this section and any other section of code.
The Department of Public Safety (DPS) indicated there would be some costs to update business rules and procedures by creating a new enforcement action for any conviction of reckless driving offenses. This analysis assumes DPS could implement the provisions of the bill utilizing existing appropriations.
Local Government Impact
The increase in revenue generated from higher fines would vary depending on the number of offenses committed, but that amount may be offset by costs associated with increased jail time per offender.
According to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS), the average cost for an inmate in a county jail is $59.33 per day.