Sunday, November 27, 2011

TEXAS LAWMAKERS ... OOPS ... OVERLOOKED A SLIGHT DETAIL

Because dozens of measures are voted on during the final day, something like this happens during every legislative session. Many of the legislators haven’t a clue about what is actually in the bills they are approving. And even the bills’ authors sometimes fail to check out what their legislative aides handed them.

TEXAS MISTAKENLY DROPS FINE FOR NO LICENSE PLATE

Associated Press
November 16, 2011

Texas lawmakers passing a flurry of bills on the final day of the Legislative session in May accidentally removed a $200 fine for driving without license plates from the transportation code.

That oversight means that fine and enforcement of penalties for falsifying or obscuring plates could disappear when the law takes effect Jan. 1.

Rep. Joe Pickett sponsored the law and has written to Attorney General Greg Abbott asking for an opinion clarifying enforcement. He argued that penalties are implicit.

The El Paso Democrat also said interpreting the law any other way could have absurd and dangerous consequences.

Abbott's office received the letter Oct. 24 and has 180 days to respond. No one asked for an expedited decision - even though the law takes effect in less than two months.

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