BudgetTennessee considers ways to raise money for homeland security
A 2011 bill gave the Tennessee government the ability to revoke the license of anyone in the state who did not pay criminal fines and court costs. Lawmakers originally hoped the law would bring millions of dollars in reinstatement fees, money which would be directed to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Only nine counties are complying with the law by notifying the state of violators, and so far the state had collected just $22,425.
The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security is asking for $7.6 million to boost its budget after a plan to raise the money thorough driver’s license fees fell far short of expectations.
A 2011 bill gave the state the ability to revoke the license of anyone in the state who did not pay criminal fines and court costs. Lawmakers originally thought the law would bring millions of dollars in reinstatement fees, but according to the Chattanooga Times only nine counties are complying with the law by notifying the state of violators. So far the state had collected just $22,425.
The legislation was proposed by Metro Nashville’s Criminal Court clerk’s office. In 2009 statistics showed The Timesnews reports that 328,000 residents committed a criminal offense which put them under the revocation proposal, and 75 percent did not pay their fines.
Statistics also estimated 25 percent of those residents would seek to reinstate their license. According to projections by legislative analysts, the bill would inject $6.1 million for the state and $6.4 million for local governments.
Hamilton County Criminal Court Clerk Gwen Tidwell is one of the few complying with the new requirements.
Tidwell says it is “a hassle,” and the Safety Department only set up a way for the reports to be submitted electronically in the last month or so. Tidwell also said workers in her office tell her the revocation is bringing at least some people in to pay their fines and fees, so it’s working to some extent.
“It’s a problem across the state that criminals don’t pay what they owe,” Tidwell told TimesNews.
Bill Gibbons, the Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner sent a letter to clerks in all ninety-five counties reminding them of the law earlier this month.
