Everyone can agree with me that drinking and driving is a very serious matter. Everyone can also agree with me that the consequences for getting caught drinking and driving should not be taken lightly. Finally, everyone can agree with me that getting caught drinking and driving is very expensive. What many might not know is how the expense of drinking and driving puts a dent in one's wallet for many years; I should know because I have experienced this dent.
Yes, lawyer fees, probation fees, the actual fine of drinking and driving, community service, suspension of licence, and being on probation are all well deserved penalties for getting caught for drinking and driving, but I do not agree with all the money the Texas Department of Public Safety receives after penalties are paid and served. TxDPS has a program known as the Driver Responsibility Program Surcharges. This program is definitely a money sucker. Basically, for the next three years after someone is convicted of a DWI offense, they must pay TxDPS $1,000-$2,500 yearly to legally be able to drive. Now the program does allow a monthly payment plan, but if a payment is missed, the offenders driver's license goes back in suspension.
TxDPS is making a ton of money off surcharge fees, in my opinion, too much. If someone has paid thousands and thousands of dollars in other fees from the offense and has done everything they have been asked to do, for example, 100 hours of community service, not being able to have a driver's license for many months, and serve probation for 18 months, why should they be penalized even more. Many DWI offenders have a hard time paying these surcharge fees, so they just end up not paying them and take the risk of driving with a suspended license. If that person gets pulled over driving, they face the risk of going back to jail and paying even more fees.
I believe TxDPS should lower the rate of the surcharge fees in half, or just simply get rid of them. Now some might say that the law was broken and the offender deserves to pay these fees, but instead of these fees, other consequences could change. For example, extend probation and increase community service hours. The Texas Department of Public Safety is not hurting for money, they already get tons of money from other sources, so why should they dig deep in the pockets for three years of Texans who served there time for breaking the law?
In her post on November 5, 2012, my colleague, Andrea, discusses the additional penalties and fines for being caught drinking and driving, even after fees, community service, and probation have been paid and served. She admits, having experienced the whole ordeal, that it is a very serious thing to be caught drinking and driving, but the expenses that come along with it are ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I have not been through the same experience, I would have to say that I agree with Andrea. I mean, seriously? If someone has paid their fees, and served their community service and probation, why are they still being financially punished for years afterwards? Andrea states that TxDPS has a program called the "Driver Responsibility Program Surcharges," that continues to take money from those convicted of a DWI offense. This program requires those convicted of the offense to pay TxDPS $1,000 to $2,500 a year for the next three years to legally be able to drive, which most cannot afford and therefore drive illegally, risking another offense and more money.
Andrea believes that TxDPS should cut the surcharge fees in half or just get rid of them all together. She even provides alternative consequences if the surcharge fees were to be cut, like extended probation or more community service hours.
She has definitely convinced me that some things need to change. I would say that she did a really great job presenting the information and that, combined with her personal experience, makes her pretty credible.