CHL requirement question‏

[countrymusicjdb]

Hey guys im new to the board and just have a quick question about the chl requirements. On a website it reads "Not be delinquent in paying fines, fees, child support, student loans, etc. " would that include one of the states stupid red light camera tickets??

[seamusTX]

I don't think so. Automated red-light camera tickets are civil citations. They're like a library late fee.

Even a full-blown traffic ticket issued by a real live cop is not an impediment.

Welcome to the forum.

- Jim

[Liberty]

Isn't this about being currently late and owing the money? If one owes money for a traffic ticket there will likely be a warrant out. I don't know if the DPS investigation looks at these red light tickets but if there is an old one out and payment is overdue DPS could hold back issueing the CHL if they find out. Personally I don't think they will look to hard because the money doesn't go to the State.

[shortysboy09]

Personally I don't think they will look to hard because the money doesn't go to the State.

I agree with this. It's not money owed to the State, so DPS probably won't care about it. I would go ahead and pay that red light ticket though. Why isn't it paid? Are you contesting it?

[seamusTX]

DPS has little leeway in how they interpret the law.

The statutory language is

Government Code 411.172(a)(11) has not been finally determined to be delinquent in the payment of a tax or other money collected by the comptroller, the tax collector of a political subdivision of the state, or any agency or subdivision of the state;

I don't know what happens to a person who refuses to pay one of these tickets. The companies that operate the red-light cameras don't seem to want to go to court over a sum less than $100, and they probably don't want to risk the whole scheme being declared unconstitutional.

As to why the OP didn't pay, I don't know or care. People have received these tickets who could prove they were hundreds of miles away at the time.

- Jim

[countrymusicjdb]

i wish i had some great justifiable reason for not paying it yet but i don't. Just haven't done it yet. It states on the back of the ticket that warrants aren't issued for them but that non payment is a civil matter and will be turned over to a collection agency.

[seamusTX]

From what I've read on the internets, they may ding your credit report. You might also get phone calls from obnoxious collection agencies. I still get calls for the person who had my phone number 15 years ago.

The state does not care, though, as far as I can tell.

- Jim

[countrymusicjdb]

well i emailed the state and they said NO it wouldnt matter. Thanks for all the feed back guys!

[shortysboy09]

well i emailed the state and they said NO it wouldnt matter. Thanks for all the feed back guys!

Great,

You should go ahead and pay that red-light ticket too.