Bill would link red-light citations, vehicle registration

Looks like some changes to red-light camera citations could be on the way, thanks to legislation on Gov. Rick Perry's desk: If Perry signs the bill by Sunday (or if he doesn't), drivers with outstanding red-light citations may not be able to renew their state vehicle registrations — and cities that issue the citations would no longer be able to send unpaid fines to a collection agency. Questions do remain about the proposal, including exactly how TxDOT and local governments will coordinate to deny registration. "There are so many issues with this," Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Paul Bettencourt said, explaining that the state's vehicle registration database will have to be totally revamped to let the state know who has and hasn't paid their citations.

Under current city policy, if a vehicle owner doesn't pay a red-light citation, he or she gets a second payment notice 45 days later (along with a $25 late fee). If the citation still isn't paid, it's turned over to a law firm — Perdue, Brandon, Fielder, Collins & Mott, LLP — which can sue violators. If they're found guilty, the citations are sent to a credit bureau. If the state bill becomes law, none of that would be allowed, which some observers worry would take the teeth out of the citations — especially considering that the legislation wouldn't actually require county and state agencies to refuse to register vehicles owned by people with outstanding citations. Instead, the bill says those agencies "may refuse to register a motor vehicle alleged to have been involved in the violation." There is an incentive to enforce the requirement, though: The bill would dedicate a portion of revenue from citations to local trauma care. "We think the incentive is strong for the county to help us enforce this," Frank Michel, a spokesman for Mayor Bill White, said.