Special to The Leader

 

Beginning Monday, August 3, 2015 an individual having a pending fine or fee will be denied the renewal of their motor vehicle registration at the Orange County Tax Assessor Collector’s Office.

This applies to any individuals with an outstanding fine or fee in any of the four Justice of the Peace Offices in Orange County that is at least 90 days past due. The Tax Assessor Collector’s Office with the approval of the Orange County Commissioners’ Court is enforcing the Scofflaw that requires a violator to appear before the originating court for a final disposition.

By definition a Scofflaw is a contemptuous law violator.

Texas Transportation Code Section 502.185 and Section 702.003 allow the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and the Tax Assessor Collectors Office the refusal authority.

“Thousands of citations have been reported to our office, which constitutes millions of dollars that are due to Orange County,” Tax Assessor Collector Lynda Gunstream said.

The Tax Assessor Collector’s Office will refuse to register a motor vehicle if the office has received information from a Justice of the Peace Court that the owner of a vehicle has an outstanding fine or fee.

County records indicate that there are approximately 11,718 citations totaling approximately $3,779,629.91 dollars past due to Orange County.

Once a person is found to have a pending matter with one of the courts, a release form will be issued for every violation found. The form must be taken to the originating court for collection. Only when a signed release form is returned to the Tax Office will the owner be able to renew their registration.

This Scofflaw Program is a combined effort between Tax Office and Justice of the Peace Offices within the county to collect what is past due for their courts. The public can go to http://www.co.orange.tx.us/Justice_of_the_Peace_Warrants.html to view outstanding violations.

Registered owners must present their driver’s license when renewing registration.