Photo by Melenie YuenDrivers who fail to pay fines associated with red light camera citations in Sugar Land could see a hold placed on their vehicle registration renewal as a result of a new program implemented by the city.
Sugar Land City Council approved the Scofflaw Program on Oct. 21 in coordination with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to block vehicle registration renewals for drivers with outstanding traffic violations on record.
Doug Adolph, assistant communications director for Sugar Land, said the agreement stems from an increase in unpaid fines. There is about $3 million in unpaid red light fines with about 70 percent of violators coming from other counties. Adolph said Sugar Land residents make up 30 percent of red light and traffic violations. Approximately $4 million has yet to be paid from other traffic violations. Nevertheless, Adolph said the Scofflaw Program is designed to get violators to pay their fines.
"The agreement between Sugar Land and the state is so you will not be able to register online, and you will not be able to register through the mail [if there are unpaid fines on record]," Adolph said. "I think that most people should suspect some form of consequence when you do not pay a fine that is backed by state law."
