Travis County Commissioners Court
April 20, 2010,
Item A1
Now let's call back to order the voting session of the travis county commissioners court. And a-1 is to discuss request to use the local initiative program grant on a pilot program to identify vehicles that have a counterfeit state inspection. And we note that this item may be taken into executive session under the consultation with attorney exception. Afternoon.
>> good afternoon.
>> the local initiatives project grant is a grant give ento travis county and to other counties that participate in the low income repair, replacement vehicle program. To assist people who make 300 percent or below the poverty level to clean up their vehicles. As a participant in this program, travis county receives a certain number of funds every year to do air quality projects to help us maintain compliance with the ozone standard. This program under the local initiatives project grant, would involve law enforcement officers checking a license plate through the database to see if the certificate they have on their vehicle is indeed a valid one. Based upon other similar programs in the texas area, it is believed that anywhere between 20 to 30 percent of all certificates in travis county could be counterfeit or fictitious. This grant requires a match. The match can be in kind donation, and we're proposing that we use law enforcement officer salaries and the travis county (indiscernible) for fringe benefits as the match for the grant. Therefore this would be a negative impact on the travis county budget because of the match requirements. I'm available to answer any questions you may have.
>> in other words, let's say that driving down the road and you get stopped or whatever by law enforcement. At that time they can look at the license plate or check the license plate on the vehicle that's being driven, and determine after we do that, determine after looking at the license plate, then will go and check the inspection sticker to make sure that they both -- there's a corresponding match on that? Is that what i'm hearing here?
>> that's essentially correct. They run the license plate through the bat data ta base and that comes up with the license plate number and it should show up a counterfeit inspection. It will show up a counterfeit emissions certificate showing whether or not that certificate is valid or not. Whether or not there's another vehicle in the state of texas -- excuse me. Another vehicle in the state of texas that participates in the emissions program that has the same certificate number. What they found in the dallas area is that there's thr could be the same certificate number on numerous vehicles. They have one specific certificate number that has been on over 100 vehicles so far.
>> what law enforcement -- what law enforcement personnel would be utilized for this.
>> it would be a project involving the sheriff's department appeared the constables.
>> is the identification of counterfeit state inspection stickers, can that be used as the sole reason to stop?
>> yes, it can be. It's a class c misdemeanor, and according to texas transportation code section 548603, it actually allows a vehicle to be impounded if a fictitious or counterfeit motor vehicles inspection certificate is displayed. At this point we are not asking or we do not plan on stopping the vehicles for failure to have an invalid, fictitious or counterfeit inspection certificate.
>> haven't there been issues in the dallas area of impoundment of vehicles? There were issues passed both from a budgetary standpoint as well as from other policy -- for policy reasons?
>> that's correct, but it was not because of this program. Like i said, at this time we're not proposing to impound the vehicle unless it is unsafe. This is an air quality issue. We spend thousands -- over $500,000 a year on inspection maintenance programs. This could be a program to find out if it's actually working and to bring -- and making good cars, making them cleaner by forcing thoam actually get an inspection.
>> any other questions? There are legal issues associated with this and that's why we indicated here that it might be taken into executive session under consultation with attorney. I hear by announce that intention. That good enough, mr. Hille?
The first minute of theis item discussed after Executive Session was not captioned.
>>...Of that nature. >> should i zipped an e-mail? I can send an e-mail covering those two points? >> that would be appreciated but i can already tell you right now that the amount of grant funds that are available are approximately $447,000. For this year. And next year, fy 11, we are expected to get that exact same amount from tceq. >> travis county? >> yes. >> we will share that e-mail with the court. And if there are other information requested, they can send that to you, also, is that okay? >> yes. >> okay. Thank you very much and thank for you keeping us on our toes on this grant possibility.
The Closed Caption log for this Commissioners Court agenda item is provided by Travis County Internet Services. Since this file is derived from the Closed Captions created during live cablecasts, there are occasional spelling and grammatical errors. This Closed Caption log is not an official record the Commissioners Court Meeting and cannot be relied on for official purposes. For official records please contact the County Clerk at (512) 854-4722.
Last Modified:
Tuesday, April 20, 2010 5:44 PM
