tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post1217839925473594339..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: Senate committee wimps out on driver surcharge abolitionGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-49693247809180195262017-01-31T01:43:37.989-06:002017-01-31T01:43:37.989-06:00I presently have a person staying with me that has...I presently have a person staying with me that has had surcharges on their back for over 10 years. She is indigent and I'm trying to help her get on her feet. Trying to get some of surcharges reduced with the indigence program is futile we found out. Though she has no income at present. These SOBs the state has contracted to shake these people down wanted copies of my pay stubs. Though I am no relation to her, nor is she my dependent, they wanted pay stubs from people she was staying with. And had the nerve to say they wouldn't run a credit check on me. This whole thing is insane. Trying to shake down a person who is supplying a roof for a person that has been caught up in this. They have no right at all to my pay stubs or trying to get in my personal business for helping someone out. Their greed and evil intent isn't justified by any means. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-53951458255090709342017-01-29T02:42:42.395-06:002017-01-29T02:42:42.395-06:00Anon 11:35- it is not to any party because both ar...Anon 11:35- it is not to any party because both are the same, it is called greed. Term limits! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-6582318751403338132017-01-27T08:04:29.682-06:002017-01-27T08:04:29.682-06:00If you don't mind, 5:01, shoot me an email at ...If you don't mind, 5:01, shoot me an email at gritsforbreakfast@gmail.com and let me know a few more details about your conversation.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-11518265957056581202017-01-26T17:01:27.792-06:002017-01-26T17:01:27.792-06:00While I don't think the law is unconstitutiona...While I don't think the law is unconstitutional, I believe it to be bad policy. When I discussed it with a state senator the other day, he told me that any serious changes to the law were "off the table for this session", and presumably future sessions if he had his way. When mentioning anecdotal comments about people driving without a license because of it, his retort was, and this is paraphrasing it: "I bet they drive a darn sight better now" to stay out of further trouble. As I switched topics, he threw in some choice comments about "lefties" being able to distort the very real good the law has done, but he fell short of mentioning Grits. <br /><br />With this kind of mindset in Austin, I doubt we will see major changes for years, too many people supportive of his way of thought.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-67265508774462681972017-01-26T14:15:24.963-06:002017-01-26T14:15:24.963-06:00" Texas has become too republican. It seems e...<br /><i><b>" Texas has become too republican. It seems every session they pass some sort of law which clearly violates the US Constitution - and they don't even care what the consequences are...." <br />--and--<br /> "the only way I can see it changing is if we find the incumbent on our ballots and vote for the other guy regardless of their party. Enough is enough."</b></i><br /><br />OMG, if only we had more reasonable Republicans such as Anon@11:35 who believe this state has gone bonkers with the conservative thought process. He's Innocentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-8455627628729776432017-01-26T11:35:54.099-06:002017-01-26T11:35:54.099-06:00The only way we can fight is to continue to call a...The only way we can fight is to continue to call and write them, and ultimately vote them out of office - which should have already happened. I may be a republican, but this goes well beyond my conservative thought process. Texas has become too republican. It seems every session they pass some sort of law which clearly violates the US Constitution - and they don't even care what the consequences are.... but this DRP is nothing but a prime time example of genuine hard headed political non-sense and the only way I can see it changing is if we find the incumbent on our ballots and vote for the other guy regardless of their party. Enough is enough.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-84413811617711975842017-01-26T05:31:31.003-06:002017-01-26T05:31:31.003-06:00I agree, John 11:20:00 am. The system has gotten ...I agree, John 11:20:00 am. The system has gotten so corrupt, filled with administrative fees and fines. Why would they kill this cash cow? The poor and middle class have no way to fight the system.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-91213224527247406602017-01-25T07:46:30.974-06:002017-01-25T07:46:30.974-06:00The Flying Lizards in 1979 wrote a great song: &qu...The Flying Lizards in 1979 wrote a great song: "I want money". Hmmm, wonder if that has anything to do with this issue?Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-85605825954308401632017-01-24T11:20:59.981-06:002017-01-24T11:20:59.981-06:00Will youse guys never understand you are slaves to...Will youse guys never understand you are slaves to the political-class/"legal"/"law enforcement" industry???!!<br /> They are there to get paid more too much. That's all. NO "representation," nearly NO "protect and serve." <br /> Sociopaths float; sociopaths happen. <br />THEY DIDN'T WIMP OUT, THEY ARE TRAITORS WHO SOLD OUT. BE HONEST (they won't.)<br />Texas anti-Constitutional drive/road/license setup is their massive gold mine, effectively personal ATMs. They make up policy and live outside the written law.<br />The We The Dirt Poor People can just eat dirt.<br />YOU CANNOT WIN THROUGH THE SYSTEM---TOO MANY ARE TOTALLY CORRUPTED. <br />WAKE UP!!!johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02808884177035705472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-51922323509376820562017-01-24T09:24:39.491-06:002017-01-24T09:24:39.491-06:00Yes it needs to be abolished but Texas Legislators...Yes it needs to be abolished but Texas Legislators are in bed with the Hospital Trauma units! Not only does surcharges/failure to appear and reinstatement fees need to be abolished but DPS also makes those offenders lose their DL one to two years! This has become such a Big Monster that I don't think we will ever be able to dissolve it! Every year we have hearings and nothing is ever accomplished!<br /><br />So these offenders are never able to pay off tickets, surcharges and reinstatement fees but they still need to drive the kids to school, go to the store and go to work! They are no longer afraid of jail time! They also can't afford insurance!<br /><br />I think some big wig lawyer needs to sue the DPS and maybe they can kill the big Monster! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-16865549622748717282017-01-24T07:57:46.913-06:002017-01-24T07:57:46.913-06:00Here's a question: in 2015, DPS promised the 8...Here's a question: in 2015, DPS promised the 84th Lege they would hold another round of amnesty. The 85th Lege is now seated and still no amnesty. What's the deal, DPS? And why didn't this come up in the Committee hearing?<br /><br />I've been working with probationers to get their licenses valid due to past failures to clear up tickets, etc., but there comes a point where the surcharges serve no purpose other than to keep people in a system of debt. Plus reinstatement fees? That tastes like triple jeopardy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-45256470433867193212017-01-23T22:41:26.395-06:002017-01-23T22:41:26.395-06:00Posted on FB to 430 friendsPosted on FB to 430 friendsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-27385891386143704282017-01-23T21:43:15.704-06:002017-01-23T21:43:15.704-06:00I know someone who was whacked with a DRP penalty ...I know someone who was whacked with a DRP penalty more than 10 years ago. She drives without a license to this day, because she can’t afford to pay off Texas.<br /><br />Her license from her previous state of residence had expired right as she was moving to Texas. Not suspended, just expired.<br /><br />She was stopped while driving a properly registered and insured car with current Texas tags. I forget the reason for the stop, but she didn’t even receive a ticket for that. Instead, she was ticketed for driving without a valid license. <br /><br />After paying that ticket, many months later she received a notice in the mail that her driving privileges in Texas would be suspended unless she paid (IIRC) $750 per year for three years. And even though she had never held a Texas DL, and had never applied for one, they administratively issued her a Texas DL and suspended it. She assumes that if she ever applies for a license wherever she lives, it will be rejected until she pays Texas more than two grand over a ticket that only cost a couple hundred bucks. <br /><br />The DRP needs to die, completely.KBCraignoreply@blogger.com