tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post3876255583958869592..comments2024-03-15T05:45:01.402-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: 'Time running out for Driver Responsibility Program amnesty' - 54,000+ now rid of surchargesGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-84209583249047449672011-03-07T17:07:37.304-06:002011-03-07T17:07:37.304-06:00Texas amnesty program upsets DWI offenders who pai...Texas amnesty program upsets DWI offenders who paid surcharges<br /><br />http://www.dallasnews.com/news/state/headlines/20110306-texas-amnesty-program-upsets-dwi-offenders-who-paid-surcharges.eceAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-53552832250063651852011-03-07T13:16:40.723-06:002011-03-07T13:16:40.723-06:00Trying to call, they are unable to take my call at...Trying to call, they are unable to take my call at this time, told me to try later.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-71248922742044120502011-03-05T16:27:43.829-06:002011-03-05T16:27:43.829-06:00as a former RIO specialist who is now jobless as o...as a former RIO specialist who is now jobless as of April 15th...one of my job duties was to inform inmates of the amnesty program as obviously a large portion of them owe those surcharges. They were given the info & were told to write home to their families w/ pertinent info. Whether they did or not remains to be seen but that is where a portion of those drivers are...Prison.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-3385262057065271762011-03-04T12:44:00.144-06:002011-03-04T12:44:00.144-06:00Thanks. I hope you will post it as soon as you kno...Thanks. I hope you will post it as soon as you know something. This is pretty much the only source of information on the subject.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-40430066102709215842011-03-04T12:25:01.934-06:002011-03-04T12:25:01.934-06:0011:14, I'm told the indigency program starts &...11:14, I'm told the indigency program starts "soon after" amnesty is over, but to my knowledge no definitive date has been announced.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-55266624325224146932011-03-04T11:14:19.199-06:002011-03-04T11:14:19.199-06:00Has there been a date announced to begin signing u...Has there been a date announced to begin signing up for the indigency program?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-22561124390512597512011-03-04T07:42:06.116-06:002011-03-04T07:42:06.116-06:00I've been telling my probation clients about t...I've been telling my probation clients about this program since I first learned about the amnesty, but getting probationers to call a number is like trying to skin a live cat. The website is a great tool for probation officers to utilize when probationers are in the office. You can pull up the driving record and the site will show you exactly what you owe in surcharges and if you qualify for the amnesty. Great thing about it, you can click "Enroll" for your probationer and Bam! They're enrolled! How cool is that? Plus, the confirmation page displays the reduced amount they will have to pay by April 17th. This all takes 2 minutes and is definitely worth the time to get at least some of these folks past this hurdle and back on the road legally. Imagine what this could do for our insurance rates!A Texas POnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-48273001777305385392011-03-04T04:53:12.154-06:002011-03-04T04:53:12.154-06:00My license was suspended for possession of a contr...My license was suspended for possession of a controlled substance (6 gms marijuana) while walking! Three years later, when I applied for the surcharge amnesty program, I'm informed that my surcharge isn't for drug possession, but for DWLS, a charge I rec'd 18 months later! So my license WASN'T suspended when I was ticketed? Regardless, being disabled, on a fixed income, I can't possibly afford $156 before April 17 and pay full rent and utilities! If anyone would like to contribute, contact me: welovejoshua@yahoo.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-15741103130292034892011-03-03T19:27:07.063-06:002011-03-03T19:27:07.063-06:00I just got a bill today for total amount due $844....I just got a bill today for total amount due $844.00. The problem with amnesty is it only applies to accounts that predates 2009. This is almost half my take home pay for this month. Suffice to say, I will remain without a license and insurance. <br /><br />The amnesty program only affects about 1/3 of drivers with surcharges. Even if there was a 100% participation rate, very little good will come out. The number of drivers unable to pay these fees will continue to grow.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-89811389345352065732011-03-03T16:18:16.009-06:002011-03-03T16:18:16.009-06:00Right. That's why I don't want to hear so...Right. That's why I don't want to hear some jerk saying we need to keep DRP because the money pays for trauma care.Prison Dochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03651611135066437902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-73587842518155020922011-03-03T11:33:03.109-06:002011-03-03T11:33:03.109-06:00Prison Doc, the Texas Tribune recently reported th...Prison Doc, the Texas Tribune <a href="http://www.texastribune.org/texas-state-agencies/department-of-public-safety/drp-helps-trauma-centers-save-lives-supporters-say/" rel="nofollow">recently reported</a> that hospitals aren't getting most of the "dedicated" money:<br /><br />"In initial budget proposals, lawmakers have resisted alloting the fund's full amount for trauma care because it helps pad the state's general revenue account.<br /><br />"'It’s sort of a savings account for the state,' said Dinah Welsh, CEO of Texas EMS Trauma and Acute Care Foundation. Because the funds are dedicated, they can’t be appropriated for any other purpose — so if they’re not marked for trauma care, 'they sit in an account sort of in the sky,' Welsh said. The Legislature appropriated $150 million last biennium for trauma care from the dedicated DRP fund, she said, but an additional $380 million stayed in the DRP account."Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-59052549908106012262011-03-03T11:20:51.287-06:002011-03-03T11:20:51.287-06:00Is there data on how much DRP money actually went ...Is there data on how much DRP money actually went to EMS and trauma, or did it all get sucked up into general revenue? I hate taxes as much as the next guy especially with our huge sales tax, but all these fees, fines, and assessments are bonkers.Prison Dochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03651611135066437902noreply@blogger.com