AN ANALYSIS OF VIOLATIONS OF THE TEXAS MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION LAWS AND REVENUE LOSSES. FINAL REPORT

This report documents the finding of a study of the extent of violations of the Texas Motor Vehicle Registration Laws in Texas and the revenue loss to the state due to these violations. Information is presented relative to the extent of the problem in other states and their perspective of revenue losses, enforcement, major violation categories, and registration laws and regulations. A brief summary of Texas laws, including a recent Attorney General's Opinion, is presented. Information was developed from surveys sent to other U.S. states and Canadian Provinces. Violation rates were estimated from surveys conducted at shopping malls and county tax assessors' offices throughout Texas. An array of alternatives are presented to manage the problems associated with the noncompliance of the vehicle registration laws. Revenue loss estimates are reported for several in-violation categories. These include losses due to not registering in a timely manner by Texas residents, failure of new residents to transfer their out-of-state registration, and losses due to fraudulent practices such as theft and registration placed on wrong vehicles. It is estimated that the state loses in excess of $10 million annually due to these violations.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Research study title: Registration Violation Enforcement.
• Corporate Authors:

  Texas Transportation Institute

  Texas A&M University System, 1600 E Lamar Boulevard
  Arlington, TX  United States  76011

  Texas State Department of Highways & Public Transportation

  Transportation Planning Division, P.O. Box 5051
  Austin, TX  United States  78763

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Lamkin, J T
  • McAllister, M J
• Publication Date: 1990-5

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 98 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Compliance; Data collection; Laws; Losses; Motor vehicles; Registration; Revenues; States; Surveys
• Uncontrolled Terms: Violations
• Geographic Terms: Canada; Texas
• Old TRIS Terms: Motor vehicle laws & regulations
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Finance; Highways; Law; I10: Economics and Administration;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00601497
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/TX-91/1202-1F, Res Rept 1202-1F, TTI: 2-12-89-1202-1F
• Contract Numbers: Study 2-12-89-1202
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Nov 30 1990 12:00AM