FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                     February 7, 2013

Contact: Courtney Forsell, Office of Rep. Larry Gonzales; (512) 463-0670

Representative Gonzales to Speak on Repeal
Of the Driver Responsibility Program

AUSTIN - Representative Larry Gonzales (R-Round Rock) will be joined by fellow House members Lon Burnam (D-Fort Worth) and Sylvester Turner (D-Houston) today, Thursday, February 7th, at a press conference on efforts to repeal the Driver Responsibility Program in Texas.

Representative Gonzales has filed HB 104, which would repeal the 10-year old program that was initially created to encourage more responsible driving through the implementation of an annual surcharge on drivers convicted of a certain number of low-level traffic offenses.  Failure to pay this surcharge - assessed on top of court fines and criminal penalties - results in automatic license suspension.

While the program was founded with good intentions, it has failed over the past decade to accomplish the goals intended by the original bill.  Collection rates are low, there are more unlicensed drivers on Texas roads, and case backloads are causing undue costs to counties.

WHO: Representative Larry Gonzales, Representative Lon Burnam, Representative Sylvester Turner
WHEN: Thursday, February 7th, 11:30am or Upon Adjournment
WHERE: Speaker's Committee Room, Texas Capitol, 2W.6

This event is open to all credentialed media. A live webcast will also be available at www.house.state.tx.us/video-audio/.

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During the press conference, the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition will be releasing a report on the failed Driver Responsibility Program.