Untitled Texas Attorney General Opinion ( 1986 )

The Attorney General of Texas
Feb:ruary21, 1986
JIM MATTOX
Attorney General
Supreme Court Building Eoaorablc David Cain Opinion No. JM-441
P. 0. Box 12548 Chaitman
Austin, TX. 76711. 2548 Colmnitteeon Transp,Drtation Re: Whether administrative fees may
512,475.2501
Texas Eouse of Representatives be assessed by a justice of the
Telex 9101874.1367
Telecopier 5121475.0266
P. 0. Box 2910 peace or a municipal judge in
Austin, Texas 787859 traffic cases arising under article
6701d. section 143A, V.T.C.S.
714 Jackson, sldte 700
Dallas, TX. 752024508
Dear Representative Cain:
2141742-8944
You ask the folloving two questions:
4824 Alberta Ave.. Suite 160
El Paso, TX. 799052793 1. Mcy municipal and justice of the peace
915/533-3484 courts assess an administrative fee to defendants
in administering provisions of article 6701d,
IWl Texas, Suite 700 section 1#13A,V.T.C.S.?
Houston, TX. 77002-3111
713i223.5886 2. May municipal and justice of the peace
courts awess an administrative referral fee to
Texas Department of Safety approved or licensed
808 Broadway, Suite 312
Lubbock, TX. 79401-3479
Class 4 CDTS schools which provide driver safety
8061747-5238 courses tsosection L43A defendants?
Section 143A of article 6701d provides for the dismissal of
4309 N. Tenth, Suite B
,&Allen, TX. 78501-1685
certain misdemeanor charges upon completion of a driving safety course
512,882.4547 by the defendant. The defensive driving course must be one approved
by the Texas Department of Public Safety or by the court. See
V.T.C.S. art. 670111, §143A(a)(L), (2). You state that a municiq
200 Main Plaza, Suite 400
court contracted with certain providers of approved courses to present
San Antonio, TX. 782052797
a list of the prcviders to section 143A defendants. In return, the
512/225-4191
course provider pays the municipal court a fee for each course
completion by a section 143A defendant. These fees are used to defray
An Equal OppOrtUnityI the costs of administering the section 143A dismissal program.
Affirmative Action Employer
It is well-established that a fee may not be charged unless the
fee is provided for by law. Attorney General Opinion JM-346 (1985);
see also Attorney, General Opinions JM-357 (1985); JM-165, JM-158,
JM-153 (1984); JM-113, JM-22 (1983). Article 6701d does not authorize
the imposition o,E an administrative referral fee either against
defendants or again,stthe providers of defensive driving courses. See
also Code Grim. Pwc. art. 45.07 (no costs shall be provided forby
p. 2011
Honorable David Cain - Page :I (JM-441)
ordinance); cf. Code Grim. :Proc.art. 45.06 (authorizing special fee
for the issuance and serrice of warrant of arrest for violating
promise to appear under sect:Lon149 of article 6701d).
SUMMARY
Article 6701d dl>esnot authorize the imposition
of an administrative referral fee in cases arising
under the section 143A program for the dismissal
of certain misdenranor charges upon completion of
a driving safety course by defendant. No such fee
may be assessed ag;sinstsection 143A defendants or
against the providers of driving safety courses
without statutory ;authorizstion.
J W
Very truly your
&
JIM MATTOX
Attorney General of Texas
JACK HIGBTOWRR
First Assistant Attorney Gemera
MARY KELLER
Executive Assistant Attorney General
ROBERT GRAY
Special Assistant Attorney G#eneral
RICK GILPIN
Chairman, Opinion Committee
Prepared by Jennifer Riggs
Assistant Attorney General
P. 2012