By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-850335.mp3
Dallas, TX –
Garland is the first city in Dallas County to join the county's SCOFFLAW program. KERA's BJ Austin says it's a program that blocks renewal of vehicle registration if the car-owner has unpaid tickets.
The County began the program in February. Since then, some 9 thousand names have been sent to the state, which puts a "scofflaw" hold on registration renewal. The vehicle cannot be registered until full payment is made. 15 to 20% of those with the Dallas County scofflaw label are paying up. Commissioner Mike Cantrell says the county is inviting its 26 cities to be part of the program.
Cantrell: You know, we have 210 million dollars in unpaid fines and costs that people owe to Dallas County. And you saw where the sales tax in all these different cities; Dallas, Garland Frisco and the different places, they're coming in way under budget. So, this is a method to be able to increase revenues people that owe the money and then not have to increase the tax rate on the property owners.
Garland says it expects to recoup 310 thousand dollars the first year of the program. Commissioner Cantrell says he expects Dallas will be the next city to come on board.