(Texas) Get ready to be screwed by out Legislators

J-Rod · 06-04-2003, 03:45 PM

Talked with a buddy of mine who informed me about some of the laws that are waiting on the Govenor's signature.

Texas will now have a points system like all the other commie states. If you acquire points, it will cost you more to renew your Driver's License. In fact the figure I heard was it could cost you as much as $2300 to renew your license if you have too many points. But even a couple of tickets could cost you $250 when you go to renew.

Of course the insurance industry will use this to tag your rates also.

Street racing (or at least if the police fell you are racing) will become a Class B up from a Class C. $1000 fine up to 6 months in jail. Seizure of your car, etc...

Of course it is already a crime to run from the cops, but fleeing from the cops was made a felony last year. So, if you flee, your car is being used in the commission of a felony. The state can move to sieze your vehicle under the seizure acts that are in place. Even if the ticket gets dismissed, they can still seize and dispose of your vehicle.

If you have a chance, look at all the laws they are trying to pass. Texas has a budgetary defecit, so they are masking revenue generating tatics under the guise of public safety.

The only bright spot is the ticket cameras at red lights was rejected since stats show that for it to work (be profitable) , you have to shorten the yellow light from 4 seconds to 2 seconds. Which nets more re-light runners, but also increases accidents by 40% at those intersections.

You will probably not hear about many of the other crooked laws they are passing until it is too late. So, I would advise you to see what is going on....

Future MD · 06-04-2003, 04:05 PM

That really sucks!! I've been thinking of relocating to Austin, but it sounds like they are trying to make it another AZ. We have some pretty stupid traffic laws and such here. The cameras at the red lights is one of my big pet peeves. I'm not as bad as I used to be, but because the yellow is shorter I had a hard time deciding to run it or slam on the brakes and try to stop. I have to agree that I think they are causing more accidents than they were initially installed to prevent.

Hope all you Texans vote against these new laws if they hit th ballots. Good luck!! :seeya

Tormania · 06-04-2003, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Hope all you Texans vote against these new laws if they hit th ballots. Good luck!! :seeya

Sadly we don't get to vote on this stuff. The Leg. passes it and we have to deal with it. All because they can't manage money properly. :rolleyes:

Tom/99 · 06-04-2003, 05:47 PM

:mad

BRU · 06-04-2003, 05:56 PM

Man, I hope it's not retroactive... :leaving: That sux! :mad :cuss

Future MD · 06-04-2003, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Sadly we don't get to vote on this stuff. The Leg. passes it and we have to deal with it. All because they can't manage money properly. :rolleyes:

Now that sucks!! I guess you just have to put your faith in the Leg. then right? :nonod:

twincam47 · 06-05-2003, 12:09 AM

if the governor doesn't sign it still passes into law........
the only thing he could do to prevent it at this point is
veto it........

If it's sitting on his desk and he doesn't do anything it becomes law. :flag

vette_dreamer · 06-05-2003, 10:11 AM

Am I the only one here thinking that street racing and running from cop is bad, and should be punished? :confused: I actually wish they would ticket the people running red lights more often. If I am in the minority on these topics, then I guess that explains why there are some many people running red lights and driving irresponsibly.
If you are a responsible and safe dirver, then these laws won't be an issue.

geekracer · 06-05-2003, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Am I the only one here thinking that street racing and running from cop is bad, and should be punished? :confused: I actually wish they would ticket the people running red lights more often. If I am in the minority on these topics, then I guess that explains why there are some many people running red lights and driving irresponsibly.
If you are a responsible and safe dirver, then these laws won't be an issue.

:iagree:

WildKarrde · 06-05-2003, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Am I the only one here thinking that street racing and running from cop is bad, and should be punished? :confused: I actually wish they would ticket the people running red lights more often. If I am in the minority on these topics, then I guess that explains why there are some many people running red lights and driving irresponsibly.
If you are a responsible and safe dirver, then these laws won't be an issue.

No you're not. I kind of like the point system they want to set up. A couple tickets every few years won't hurt you, but it really starts to cost the bad drivers. What I like best it that the fines are heaviest for DWI convictions. They rarely do squat against drunk drivers, but at least now the pain to the wallet will be heavier.

BTW, if you get a ticket it can be kept off your insurance record by taking defensive driving, and the same goes for the points. Take DD and no points.

USA Muscle · 06-05-2003, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Am I the only one here thinking that street racing and running from cop is bad, and should be punished? :confused: I actually wish they would ticket the people running red lights more often. If I am in the minority on these topics, then I guess that explains why there are some many people running red lights and driving irresponsibly.
If you are a responsible and safe dirver, then these laws won't be an issue.

:iagree: 100 %

Doesn't really bother me a bit. I do wish they could watch more intersections to catch all the red light runners !! To me that's so much more dangerous then speeding a little ... now reckless driving is another topic !! :nono: :mad

J-Rod · 06-06-2003, 09:05 AM

Ummm before y'all jump up and down for joy over the cameras at intersections perhaps you need to examine how they catch the folks.

They shorten the time that the light is yellow from 4 seconds which is the minimum recommended by the NHTSA to 2 seconds. By doing so, accidents increase by 40%, but they end up writing more citations. So, the state collects more revenues, but end up killing citizens by doing so. Yeah, I'm all for that, NOT... Luckily that got killed.

As for the racing... Its B.S. plain and simple. Here is a real simple scenario. You are speeding down highway. The cop pulls you over and says he is going to ticket you for racing. You argue that you were simply speeding. But it gets written as a racing ticket. Now you are looking at having to hire a lawyer or, a 1yr suspended license and a $1000 fine....

As for the points system, that is simply a bunch of crap. It just another way for the state to make money off of you, and for the insurance company to jack up your rates.

Most of the laws being passed this session are about one thing... Money the state has a budget shortfall, so all the stuff they are passing is to generate revenue.

I.E. Rob us blind... I'm so friggin excited about that. There were a bunch of other bills that are being signed into law that you haven't heard about, and never came up for public scrutiny. I'm sure many of you won't mind them, until they hit you in the pocket book. Then you'll agree how many of them suck.

vette_dreamer · 06-06-2003, 12:15 PM

I respect your opinion. You probably agree there are always two sides to a story. There are good cops, and there are bad. I don't know how you feel. While I had cops wrote me tickets while I thought there were people going way faster than me, I was not too happy, sure; but I don't believe that their sole purpose is out there to get us. For the case if I am going 5-8 mph over the limit, and get a ticket for racing, I think I have a pretty strong case on my side. If you speed over 25mph, that's a different story.
I have a friend who is a cop, he told me that if he wanted to pull someone over, there is always something he can find to pull him/her over. These laws don't give them any moe ammo. It's just more severe punishment for when you do break them.
And if you really think you are innocent, there is always the "jury" system.
I am not celebrating the passing of these new laws, but I am happy to see something is being done about people running red lights and speeding EXCESSIVELY.