Texas Points System Repealed

Texas Has Done Away with the Points System and Surcharges! The Taxes Based on Your Driving Record Have Been Eliminated!!!

The Texas Transportation Code had a new Chapter following the 2003 Legislature in Austin. Chapter 708 of the Transportation Code was titled the "Driver Responsibility Program." You, your family, and friends probably noticed these new taxes based on your driving record in the years following its enactment.

The Texas Legislature referred to these new TAXES as SURCHARGES. Surcharges were assessed in addition to fines and court costs. The State of Texas began keeping track of points for all traffic ticket convictions after September 1, 2003 in order to assess surcharges. Due to this program, thousands of Texas Drivers Licenses were suspended.

The Department of Public Safety's website provides the following information about the repeal of the Driver Responsibility Program:

NOTICE

Effective September 1, 2019, the State of Texas has repealed the Driver Responsibility Program – Chapter 708, Transportation Code. The Department of Public Safety has reinstated all driver privileges that were previously suspended solely for having unpaid surcharges. If your license was suspended for other offenses, you may check the status of your driver license and determine any reinstatement requirements by visiting our License Eligibility page. Additional information on the repeal of the program may be found at Driver Responsibility Program (Surcharge) Repeal FAQs.

Until September 1, 2019, the Driver Responsibility Program Law read as follows:

CHAPTER 708, SUBCHAPTER B. SEC. 708.052.
SSIGNMENT OF POINTS FOR CERTAIN CONVICTIONS.

 (a) The driver's license of a person accumulates a point under this subchapter as of the date the department records a conviction of the person under Section 521.042 or other applicable law.

 (b) For each conviction arising out of a separate transaction, the department shall assign points to a person's license as follows:

  (1) two points for a moving violation of the traffic law of this state or another state that is not described by Subdivision (2); and

  (2) three points for a moving violation of the traffic law of this state, another state, or a political subdivision of this or another state that resulted in an accident.

SEC. 708.053. ANNUAL SURCHARGE FOR POINTS. Each year, the department shall assess a surcharge on the license of a person who has accumulated six or more points under this subchapter during the preceding 36-month period.

SEC. 708.054. SURGHARGE. The amount of a surcharge under this chapter is $100 for the first six points and $25 for each additional point.

And the surcharge is paid each year for three years!!! And if you dont pay the surcharge, the Department of Public Safety will automatically suspend your drivers license.

Also Note: If you receive a single conviction of Driving While License Suspended or No Financial Responsibility (i.e. No Auto Liability Insurance), points dont matter; you owe a surcharge of $250 per year for three years. Driving with No Valid Operators License (No TDL) will also result in a surcharge of $100 per year for three years.