Honorable Larry Phillips, Chair, House Committee on Transportation
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2420 by Elkins (Relating to the authority of a local government to impose a civil penalty for certain failures to obey a traffic-control signal.), As Introduced
The probable fiscal implications of this bill cannot be determined at this time due to the unavailability of data regarding the number of right hand turn violations detected by a photographic traffic enforcement system statewide and the number of fines collected from these violations. It is assumed the bill could result in loss of revenue deposited to the General Revenue-Dedicated Regional Trauma Account 5137.
The bill would amend Chapter 707, Transportation Code, to prohibit a local authority from imposing a civil penalty for violation of a photographic traffic signal enforcement system (system) if the vehicle in violation is turning right at an intersection.
Revenue from system violations is divided between municipalities and the state (General Revenue-Dedicated Regional Trauma Account No. 5137). In fiscal year 2012, $16.7 million was deposited to the Regional Trauma Account from civil violations detected by a system. The bill could reduce the number of violations assessed by a system; which would reduce revenue deposited to the Regional Trauma Account. However, the decrease in revenue cannot be determined.
Local Government Impact
The impact of this bill on local governments would vary depending upon the number of right hand turn violations detected by a photographic traffic enforcement system in the government's jurisdiction. The City of Corpus Christi reported an estimated total revenue loss of $391,825 in fiscal year 2014; and similar losses for FY 2015–18. Corpus Christi has a population of 312,065 and the city's affected department current fiscal year budget is $995,889.
The City of Fort Worth reported an estimated 34 percent of violations are right hand turns. The total revenue that would be lost as a result of the bill is estimated to be $2.2 million in FY 2014; and ranges from $1.8 million to $1.5 million in fiscal years 2015–18. Fort Worth has a population of 758,000 and the city's affected department current fiscal year budget is $11.5 million.
The City of Garland reported an estimated total revenue loss of $360,000 in fiscal year 2014. Garland's fiscal year 2012–13 budgeted expenditures for the SafeLight Garland program are $845,000. Right turn violations account for about 55 percent of all violations in the SafeLight Garland program; an estimated revenue loss of $682,000 that would result in an insufficient amount of revenue to operate the SafeLight Garland program on a revenue-neutral basis. Garland has a population of 228,000 and the city's affected department current fiscal year budget is $845,000.
The City of Plano reported an estimated total revenue loss of $693,745 in fiscal year 2014; and similar losses in fiscal years 2015–18. The city also noted that none of the revenue nor operating expenses for the Photographic Traffic Signal Enforcement Program are contained within the city's overall appropriated budget or the Police Department's budget. A special Traffic Safety Fund, separate from the City of Plano General Fund, exists for the operation of this program. Plano has a population of 261,900 and the city's affected department current fiscal year budget is $55.4 million.
The City of Irving reported an estimated total revenue loss of $368,750 in fiscal year 2014; and similar losses in fiscal years 2015–18. Irving has a population of 216,000 and the city's affected department current fiscal year budget is $1.8 million.
The City of Richardson has nine camera approaches and estimates that 46 percent of violations are right hand turns. The city reported an estimated total revenue loss of $389,163 in fiscal year 2014; and similar losses in fiscal years 2015–18. Richardson has a population of 101,742 and the city's affected department current fiscal year budget is $1.1 million.