Vehicle registration denials for toll violators to be considered again

Photo courtesy North N

ELLIS COUNTY — The Ellis County Commissioners' Court will once again take up a consideration to allow the Ellis County Tax Assessor-Collector to refuse vehicle registrations for alleged severe toll violators in an agreement with the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA).

The Commissioners' Court previously approved a similar agreement in 2014 but unanimously terminated the agreement in 2015 because of concerns.

The Commissioners' Court will discuss the issue during the November 8, 2016 Ellis County Commissioners' Court meeting. The public is invited to attend and address the court. The meeting will be held at 2 p.m. on the second floor of the Historic Ellis County Courthouse located at 101 W. Main Street in Waxahachie.

Agenda item 3.1 states, "Interlocal between Ellis County and NTTA (North Texas Tollway Authority)." Click here to read the full agenda for the Nov. 8 Commissioners' Court meeting.

Ellis County had previously entered into a similar agreement with NTTA on March 10, 2014 with a four to one vote by the Ellis County Commissioners' Court. Ellis County Precinct 1 Commissioner Dennis Robinson was the sole opposing vote.

Click here to read the previous 2014 agreement.

The agreement was for a twelve month period and would automatically renew unless terminated by either party. The agreement allows for either party to provide a 60-day notice of termination.

Ellis County Precinct 3 Commissioner Paul Perry revisited the NTTA agreement during a May 26, 2015 Ellis County Commissioners' Court meeting.

During that meeting, Perry expressed his displeasure that accused toll violators were required to drive to Dallas to appeal NTTA's claims against the alleged violator.

"Until the legislature is willing to work out a more reasonable appeal process, the former JP in me is really just kind of offended by this," Perry said.

"Some people may deserve to be suspended, but the law is, I'll use the term 'flaky'. It's not either fish or fowl. I would encourage everyone to look into it as I did after the fact. I would be ready to rescind this any time y'all are."

The Ellis County Commissioners' Court voted unanimously on June 8, 2015 to terminate the agreement with a 60-day notice to NTTA. Perry placed the item on the agenda and made the motion to withdraw from the agreement. Precinct 2 Commissioner Lane Grayson seconded the motion.

The agreement would allow the Ellis County Tax Assessor-Collector to deny vehicle registrations to any person listed on an NTTA provided list who they claim have 100 or more unpaid toll violations and who have been issued two notices of nonpayment in a year.

NTTA has other options available to encourage toll violators to settle their bills. These options include prohibiting tol violators from using NTTA toll roads, issuing a Class C misdemeanor, impounding a violator's vehicle if caught using an NTTA toll road or sending the overdue fees to collection agencies.

In September 2013, Collin County Tax Assessor-Collector Kenneth Maun was critical of the NTTA during a Dallas Morning News interview.

"They're trying to get somebody else to do their work for them," Maun said. "They're not doing anything on their own."

He also stated the agency has failed at notifying people of how much money they own and are too passive in attempting to collect the fees.