The Bryan city council adopts without public discussion at their August regular meeting, hiring an outside company that will prevent motor vehicle owners from renewing their registration online until municipal court traffic fines are paid.
An explanation of the “scofflaw” program was presented during a June 18th council workshop by the administrator of Bryan’s municipal court.
Chad Eixmann this is targeted to more than 10,000 people who have been issued warrants for failing to pay more than $5 million dollars in fines.
Eixmann said the scofflaw program, which has the support of the city’s new municipal court presiding judge, permits their contractor to flag vehicles through the Texas department of motor vehicles.
Eixmann also said tax assessor-collectors have the option of blocking renewals, but he said they prefer doing the renewals.
The city’s contractor does not charge the city or vehicle owner.
There is not a scofflaw program in College Station. A statement sent to WTAW News by College Station municipal judge Ed Spillane says “We have considered it through the years, but under the law, the county tax assessor “may” hold the registration. Up to this time, the county assessor had decided not to participate and put a hold on registering vehicles, so we did not spend money on the scofflaw program. We do participate in the omnibase program, which puts a hold on defendants who do not pay or show up to court from renewing their driver’s license upon expiration until they have taken care of their cases.”
The city of Bryan also blocks drivers license renewals for unpaid municipal court fines.
Click below to hear comments from the June 18, 2024 Bryan city council workshop meeting.