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Punitive approach to economic crimes only makes problems worse

Readers may be interested in this press release (pdf) from DPS describing new traffic laws that take effect on September 1.The release mentions an important bill that I'd somehow completely missed during the legislative session - HB 2012 by Vaught - which is likely to negatively impact counties' jail and indigent defense costs. The new law makes it "a Class B misdemeanor if a person drives with a suspended license and without insurance," but combined with Texas' so-called "Driver Responsibility" surcharge the new law will result in many more petty offenders entering county jails on a day to day basis.There's a negative, symbiotic relationship between no-insurance and no-DL offenses, which are essentially economic crimes. A driver who can't afford insurance and receives a ticket is assessed a criminal fine and a steep civil surcharge...continue to full post

Full post as published by Grits for Breakfast on August 18, 2009 (boomark / email).