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[cybrhick]

So my birthday rolled around in November, and having not had to renew my license in the last 4 years, it totally slipped my mind that I needed to renew it. Well, in January, I got pulled over for speeding, (4mph over) and was given a warning for speeding, but a ticket for the expired license. OK, my fault for forgetting, right? So I'll go pay my ticket and try to remember to renew my license (now 6 years) next time. NO BIGGIE.

So a few days ago, I get a letter in the mail. It was from a company called MSB. It claims that they are assessing a surcharge on me because of a no license conviction, and that I need to send them $104 dollars within a few weeks. Now I wasn't born last night so I'm not just sending these folks money, who "claim" they are acting on behalf of TX DPS, without verifying this. So today, I went to the DPS department here in Alvin. Here is what I DID NOT KNOW:

In September of 2003 Texas passed the Driver Responsibility Program. This program assesses points to a driver's license every time this driver is convicted of a moving violation. Once you reach a total of 6 points, you are assessed a $100 surcharge for one year. HOWEVER, there are 7 offenses which immediately assess a surcharge to your license regardless of points. One of those offenses? No license. But this time, the surcharge is not $100 dollars for 1 year, but $100 dollars per year for 3 YEARS. You can't just pay the surcharge, because the company that DPS contracts to collect these surcharges tacks their own fee on that you MUST pay, because you cannot pay DPS directly. Furthermore, you cannot just pay all 3 years surcharges at one time. Instead, you must remember to send your surcharge on time each year. If you forget to pay your surcharge one year, your license is immediately suspended. (possibly without any notification) So then, you may end up with a ticket for driving with a suspended license, which is ALSO one of the seven big offenses. And that one will cost you $250 per year for 3 years. All because I forgot my license expired on my birthday.

[RedDragon]

And mine expires in 9 days, and I have to go to the DPS office!

[larry_357]

  Thanks for the info I did not know that either and they sure do not let you know about it either

[matap]

bump. keep this on top. good info to have.

[grapeape]

And mine expires in 9 days, and I have to go to the DPS office!

David - if you got a renewal letter that says you have to go to the DPS office to renew because of a new requirement for your SSN to be included on your DL record, try renewing online anyway before you go stand in those rediculous lines and deal with the idiot employees. I got such a letter last October for my DL renewal that was to expire on 12/19/2009. So one day, I went to the Socialistic Security   office to apply for a replacement SSN card (lost my original card years and years ago) and to get a letter to verify to DPS my SSN. That was enough to make me want to pop a cap. The next day, I went to the DPS office like the letter said and the line was out the door. I got pissed   and refused to wait. Went home and logged in online and was able to renew online with a credit card with no problem. My new DL showed up in the mail a week or so later. It may have been that my SSN was already on my DL record but if that was the case you would think they would not have sent me the renewal letter that said to go to the DPS office in the first place.        Just for what it is worth.

[j1mmyj4m]

Wow, getting pulled over for 4mph is chickenshat.  I got pulled over last night for 17 over...allegedly.

I need to check my license to see when renewal is.  Thanks for the heads up.

[j1mmyj4m]

Oh, and that really sucks. 

[figowitz]

(Wait til it's your heart or gall bladder that needs 'renewing'.  Trip to DMV will be a stroll in the hanking park compared to what the idiot congressweasels & "Present" have done to us.)   

[RedDragon]

Allegedly! 

[RedDragon]

And mine expires in 9 days, and I have to go to the DPS office!

David - if you got a renewal letter that says you have to go to the DPS office to renew because of a new requirement for your SSN to be included on your DL record, try renewing online anyway before you go stand in those rediculous lines and deal with the idiot employees. I got such a letter last October for my DL renewal that was to expire on 12/19/2009. So one day, I went to the Socialistic Security   office to apply for a replacement SSN card (lost my original card years and years ago) and to get a letter to verify to DPS my SSN. That was enough to make me want to pop a cap. The next day, I went to the DPS office like the letter said and the line was out the door. I got pissed   and refused to wait. Went home and logged in online and was able to renew online with a credit card with no problem. My new DL showed up in the mail a week or so later. It may have been that my SSN was already on my DL record but if that was the case you would think they would not have sent me the renewal letter that said to go to the DPS office in the first place.        Just for what it is worth.

Thanks Marc, don't remember it saying anything about my SSN. May try to do it online anyway.

[MRVTX]

Oh man, that sucks!  These freakin' idiots contracting $h!t out is for the birds, and then to have that company tack on their own fees?!?  Unreal...

[Lucky]

Hopefully you get kissed and share a cig after that...cause you just got SCREWED.

[jedishon]

Thanks for the heads up Hick.

Jerry