CAUSE NO. ______________________

THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TEXAS

__________________________________________________________________________

ERIC PAUL KHOZINDAR

PETITIONER,

VS.

THE STATE OF TEXAS

RESPONDENT.

_________________________________________________________________________

On Petition for Discretionary Review regarding case pending before the Second Court of Appeals sitting in Fort Worth, Texas

__________________________________________________________________________

PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW

__________________________________________________________________________

KEN W. GOOD

THE GOOD LAW FIRM LAW OFFICE OF KEN W. GOOD, PLLC 5604 OLD BULLARD ROAD, SUITE 102 TYLER, TEXAS 75703 (903) 579-7507 (866) 381-0455 (FAX) keng@tyler.net

ATTORNEYS FOR PETITIONER PD-0799-15 COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS

AUSTIN, TEXAS Transmitted 6/29/2015 1:44:09 PM Accepted 6/29/2015 5:24:53 PM

ABEL ACOSTA CLERKI D E N T I T Y O F P A R T I E S A N D C O U N S E L

P u r s u a n t t o T e x a s R u l e o f A p p e l l a t e P r o c e d u r e 6 8

. 4 ( a )

, a p p e l l a n t p r e s e n t s t h e

f o l l o w i n g l i s t o f a l l p a r t i e s a n d n a m e s a n d a d d r e s s e s o f i t s c o u n s e l :

P e t i t i o n e r / A p p e l l a n t / D e f e n d a n t :
E r i c K h o z i n d a r
E r i c K h o z i n d a r , P r o S e 3 3 0 9 C r e e k b e n d D r

. G a r l a n d

, T e x a s 7 5 0 4 4 ( 9 4 0 ) 4 4 2

- 3 2 3 1

E k h o z i n d a r @ g m a i l

. c o m

C o u n s e l b e f

o r e t h i s C o u r t :
K e n W

. G o o d

T h e G o o d L a w F i r m
L a w O f f i c e o f K e n W

. G o o d

, P

. L

. L

. C

. B u l l a r d S q u a r e , S u i t e 1 0 2

5 6 0 4 O l d B u l l a r d R o a d

T y l e r , T e x a s 7 5 7 0 3 ( 9 0 3 ) 7 0 5

- 7 6 3 0 ( 8 6 6 ) 3 8 1

- 0 4 5 5 ( F a x )

k e n g @ t y l e r

. n e t

R e s p o n d e n t / A p p e l l e e / P l a i n t i f f : S t a t e o f T e x a s

C o u n s e l : C a t h e r i n e L u f

t

D e n t o n C o

. D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y ' s O f f i c e
1 4 5 0 E

. M c K i n n e y S t

. S u i t e 3 1 0 0

D e n t o n , T x 7 5 0 4 4

T e l e p h o n e : ( 9 4 0 ) 3 4 9

- 2 7 3 4 ( 9 4 0 ) 3 4 9

- 2 6 0 1 ( F a x )

C h a t h e r i n e

. L u f

t @ d e n t o n c o u n t y

. c o m

- i i

-T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

I N D E X O F A U T H O R I T I E S

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i i i

S T A T E M E N T R E G A R D I N G O R A L A R G U M E N T

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v i

S T A T E M E N T O F T H E C A S E

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v i

S T A T E M E N T O F P R O C E D U R A L H I S T O R Y

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v i

G R O U N D S F O R R E V I E W

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

S T A T E M E N T O F F A C T S

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

A R G U M E N T

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

A

. I n t r o d u c t i o n

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

B

. T h e D u e P r o c e s s C l a u s e o f t h e T e x a s a n d F e d e r a l C o n s t i t u t i o n

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4

C

. A C i v i l P e n a l t y C a n n o t S e r v e A s t h e B a s i s t o D e n y
R e n e w a l o f A V e h i c l e R e g i s t r a t i o n

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

D

. S e c t i o n 7 0 7

. 0 1 7 o f t h e T r a n s p o r t a t i o n C o d e I m p r o p e r l y A u t h o r i z e s S e i z u r e W i t h o u t a S e i z u r e

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

P R A Y E R F O R R E L I E F

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

C E R T I F I C A T E O F C O M P L I A N C E

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

C E R T I F I C A T E O F S E R V I C E

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0

- i i i

-I N D E X O F A U T H O R I T I E S

C A S E S P A G E

B o y d v

. S t a t e , 1 1 S

. W

. 3 d 3 2 4 ( T e x

. A p p

. – H o u s t o n [ 1 4 D i s t ] 1 9 9 9
, n o p e t

. )

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

t h

B r o w n v

. D a v i s , 1 2 3 S

. W

. 2 d 3 2 1 ( T e x

. 2 0 0 2 )

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

D a n i e l s v

. W i l l i a m s , 4 7 4 U

. S

. 3 2 7 ( 1 9 8 6 )

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

M a r t i n v

. S t a t e , 3 4 6 S

. W

. 2 d 8 4 0 ( T e x

. C r i m

. A p p

. 1 9 6 1 )

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

M a t u l a v

. S t a t e , 7 2 T e x

. C r i m

. 1 8 9
, 1 6 1 S

. W

. 9 6 5 ( 1 9 1 3 )

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

M i l l e r v

. Z i m m e r m a n B r u s h C o

. , 4 5 5 U

. S

. 4 2 2 ( 1 9 8 2 )

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

U n i v

. o f T e x

. M e d

. S c h

. a t H o u s t o n v

. T h a n , 9 0 1 S

. W

. 2 d 9 2 6 ( T e x

. 1 9 9 5 )

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

S T A T U T E S
, R U L E S A N D P E R I O D I C A L S P A G E

T E X

. C O D E C R IM

. P R O

. a r t 4

. 0 3

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

T E X

. C O N S T

. a r t

. I
, § 1 9

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

T E X

. G O V ’ T C O D E A N N

. § 3 0

. 0 0 0 2 7 ( a )

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

T e x

. P r o p

. C o d e A n n

. § 4 2

. 0 0 2

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

T E X

. R

. A P P

. P

. 6 6

. 3

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

T E X

. T R A N S

. C O D E § 5 0 2

. 0 5 9

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
, 7

T E X

. T R A N S

. C O D E § 5 0 2

. 4 7 1

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
, 7

- i v

-T E X

. T R A N S

. C O D E § 7 0 7

. 1 7

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
, 5

- 7

U

. S

. C O N S T

. a m e n d

. X I V

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

A P P E N D I X T A B

T h e C o u r t o f A p p e a l s O p i n i o n a n d J u d g m e n t

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A

- v

-S T A T E M E N T R E G A R D I N G O R A L A R G U M E N T

P e t i t i o n e r d o e s n o t b e l i e v e t h a t o r a l a r g u m e n t w o u l d b e h e l p f u l i n t h i s c a s e

.

S T A T E M E N T O F T H E C A S E

P e t i t i o n e r , E r i c K h o z i n d a r w a s c i t e d f o r e x p i r e d r e g i s t r a t i o n p e r m i t o n h i s v e h i c l e

p u r s u a n t t o C h a p t e r 5 9 2 o f t h e T e x a s T r a n s p o r t a t i o n C o d e

. M r

. K h o z i n d a r w a s i s s u e d a

t i c k e t f o r t h e f a i l u r e t o r e n e w h i s r e g i s t r a t i o n b e c a u s e h e w a s d e n i e d r e n e w a l a s a r e s u l t o f

h i s f a i l u r e t o p a y a t i c k e t i s s u e d b y a r e d l i g h t c a m e r a p u r s u a n t t o C h a p t e r 7 0 7

. 0 1 7 o f t h e

T e x a s T r a n s p o r t a t i o n C o d e w h i c h w a s a p h o t o g r a p h i c t r a f f i c s i g n a l

. A p p e l l a n t a p p e a l e d t h e

m u n i c i p a l c o u r t d e c i s i o n t o t h e t r i a l c o u r t i n D e n t o n C o u n t y , a n d f u r t h e r a p p e a l e d t o t h e

A p p e a l s C o u r t

, s o t h e c o u r t c o u l d d e c i d e o n t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n a l i t y a n d v a l i d i t y o f t h e s t a t u t e s

.

S T A T E M E N T O F P R O C E D U R A L H I S T O R Y

T h i s w a s a n a p p e a l f

r o m M u n i c i p a l C o u r t t o t h e D e n t o n C o u n t y C r i m i n a l C o u r t N o

.

4

. T h e H o n o r a b l e J o e B r i d g e s w a s t h e p r e s i d i n g j u d g e o f t h e c o u r t

. T h e c o u r t c o n d u c t e d a

t r i a l f o r e n f o r c e m e n t o f a c i v i l p e n a l t y t h a t w a s p r e d i c a t e d o n a c a m e r a a u t h o r i z e d u n d e r

C h a p t e r 7 0 7 o f t h e T e x a s O c c u p a t i o n s C o d e

. T h e D e f e n d a n t a l l e g e d t h a t t h e c i v i l p e n a l t y

w a s i m p r o p e r b e c a u s e i t w a s b a s e d u p o n a n u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l s t a t u t e

. O n D e c e m b e r 4

, 2 0 1 4

,

t h e t r i a l c o u r t e n t e r e d a f i n a l j u d g m e n t o f $ 1

. 0 0 i n f a v o r o f t h e s t a t e

. ( C R 1 )

. T h e t r i a l c o u r t

a l s o a w a r d e d t h e S t a t e c o u r t c o s t s

. ( C R 1 )

. T h e P e t i t i o n e r a p p e a l e d t o t h e F o r t W o r t h C o u r t

o f A p p e a l s w h i c h d i s m i s s e d f o r l a c k o f j u r i s d i c t i o n

. T h e c o u r t o f a p p e a l s o p i n i o n a n d

j u d g m e n t w a s d a t e d M a y 2 8

, 2 0 1 5

.

- v i

-C A U S E N O

.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

T H E C O U R T O F C R I M I N A L A P P E A L S O F T E X A S

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

E R I C P A U L K H O Z I N D A R

P E T I T I O N E R
,

V S

.

T H E S T A T E O F T E X A S

R E S P O N D E N T

.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

O n P e t i t i o n f

o r D i s c r e t i o n a r y R e v i e w r e g a r d i n g c a s e

p e n d i n g b e f

o r e t h e S e c o n d C o u r t o f A p p e a l s

s i t t i n g i n F o r t W o r t h
, T e x a s

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

P E T I T I O N F O R D I S C R E T I O N A R Y R E V I E W

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

T O T H E C O U R T O F C R I M I N A L A P P E A L S O F T E X A S :

C O M E S N O W

, E r i c K h o z i n d a r , P e t i t i o n e r i n t h e a b o v e s t y l e d a n d n u m b e r e d c a u s e

a n d f i l e s t h e f

o l l o w i n g p e t i t i o n f

o r d i s c r e t i o n a r y r e v i e w a n d i n s u p p o r t t h e r e o f w o u l d

r e s p e c t f u l l y s h o w t h e c o u r t t h e f o l l o w i n g :

- 1

-G R O U N D S F O R R E V I E W

T h e T e x a s C o u r t o f C r i m i n a l A p p e a l s s h o u l d a c c e p t t h i s p e t i t i o n f o r d i s c r e t i o n a r y

r e v i e w

. R u l e 6 6

. 3 o f t h e T e x a s R u l e s o f A p p e l l a t e P r o c e d u r e s t a t e s t h a t t h e f o l l o w i n g w i l l

b e c o n s i d e r e d b y t h e c o u r t i n d e c i d i n g w h e t h e r t o g r a n t d i s c r e t i o n a r y r e v i e w :

( a ) w h e t h e r a c o u r t o f a p p e a l s ' d e c i s i o n c o n f l i c t s w i t h a n o t h e r c o u r t o f a p p e a l s '

d e c i s i o n o n t h e s a m e i s s u e ;

( b ) w h e t h e r a c o u r t o f a p p e a l s h a s d e c i d e d a n i m p o r t a n t q u e s t i o n o f s t a t e o r f e d e r a l

l a w t h a t h a s n o t b e e n , b u t s h o u l d b e s e t t l e d b y t h e C o u r t o f C r i m i n a l A p p e a l s ;

( d ) w h e t h e r a c o u r t o f a p p e a l s h a s d e c l a r e d a s t a t u t e , r u l e r e g u l a t i o n , o r o r d i n a n c e

u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l

, o r a p p e a r s t o h a v e m i s c o n s t r u e d a s t a t u t e , r u l e , o r r e g u l a t i o n , o r

o r d i n a n c e ;

T E X

. R

. A P P

. P

. 6 6

. 3

. I n t h e p r e s e n t c a s e , t h e S e c o n d D i s t r i c t C o u r t o f A p p e a l s s i t t i n g i n F o r t

W o r t h h e l d t h a t t h e c o u r t d i d n o t h a v e j u r i s d i c t i o n t o h e a r t h e c a s e b e c a u s e t h e p e t i t i o n e r d i d

n o t r a i s e t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n a l i t y o f t h e “ r i g h t ” s t a t u t e e v e n t h o u g h t h e P e t i t i o n e r a p p e a l e d o n

t h e g r o u n d s t h a t t h e s t a t u t e u p o n w h i c h h i s t i c k e t w a s b a s e d w a s u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l

. F u r t h e r ,

M r

. K h o z i n d a r w a s r e p r e s e n t i n g h i m s e l f p r o s e a t t h e t i m e

. T h e r e f o r e , t h e c o u r t o f

a p p e a l s

w a s r e q u i r e d t o r e v i e w t h e d o c u m e n t i n b r o a d l i g h t

.

S T A T E M E N T O F F A C T S

E r i c K h o z i n d a r , r e c e i v e d a l e t t e r i n t h e m a i l r e g a r d i n g a t r a f f i c l i g h t v i o l a t i o n i n

r e f e r e n c e t o a v e h i c l e t h a t h e o w n e d a t t h e t i m e

. T h e l e t t e r s t a t e d t h a t t h e c i t a t i o n w a s i s s u e d

p u r s u a n t t o c h a p t e r 7 0 7 o f t h e T e x a s T r a n s p o r t a t i o n C o d e w h i c h r e l a t e s t o t h e u s e o f t r a f f i c

- 2

-c a m e r a s

. T E X

. T R A N S

. C O D E § 7 0 7

. 1 7

. I n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e s t a t u t e , t h e s t a t e i s s u e d a

$ 7 5

. 0 0 c i v i l f

i n e

. A p p e l l a n t r e f

u s e d t o p a y t h e f

i n e w h i c h i s p r o v i d e d f

o r i n t h e c h a p t e r s i n c e

i t i s n o t a c r i m i n a l p e n a l t y

. H o w e v e r , p u r s u a n t t o s e c t i o n 7 0 7

. 1 7 o f t h e s t a t u t e , t h e D e n t o n

C o u n t y T a x A s s e s s o r e f f e c t i v e l y r e v o k e d a p p e l l a n t ’ s r i g h t t o r e n e w h i s r e g i s t r a t i o n o n t h e

v e h i c l e w h i c h w a s t h e s u b j e c t m a t t e r o f t h e p h o t o

. O n N o v e m b e r 1 1

, 2 0 1 3

, A p p e l l a n t w a s

g i v e n t a c i t a t i o n b y t h e H i c k o r y C r e e k P o l i c e O f f i c e f o r a n E x p i r e d V e h i c l e R e g i s t r a t i o n

.

A p p e l l a n t w a s f

o u n d g u i l t y i n M u n i c i p a l C o u r t a n d a p p e a l e d t o t h e D e n t o n C o u n t y C r i m i n a l

C o u r t

. O n D e c e m b e r 4

, 2 0 1 4

, t h e t r i a l c o u r t h e a r d t h e c a s e w a s t r i e d t o t h e c o u r t w i t h o u t a

j u r y. T h e t r i a l c o u r t e n t e r e d a f i n a l j u d g m e n t o f $ 1

. 0 0 i n f a v o r o f t h e s t a t e

. ( C R 1 )

. T h e t r i a l

c o u r t a l s o a w a r d e d t h e S t a t e c o u r t c o s t s ( C R 1 )

. A p p e l l a n t f i l e d a t i m e l y n o t i c e o f a p p e a l

t o t h e C o u r t t o q u e s t i o n t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n a l i t y o f t h e s t a t u t e

.

A R G U M E N T

A

. I n t r o d u c t i o n

T h e g e n e r a l r u l e i s t h a t a c o u r t o f a p p e a l s d o e s n o t h a v e a u t h o r i t y t o r e v i e w a c a s e

w h i c h o r i g i n a l l y h a d b e e n a p p e a l e d f r o m a n y i n f

e r i o r c o u r t t o t h e c o u r t w h e r e t h e f i n e d o e s

n o t e x c e e d o n e h u n d r e d d o l l a r s

. T E X

. C O D E C R IM

. P R O

. a r t 4

. 0 3 ; T E X

. G O V ’ T C O D E A N N

.

§ 3 0

. 0 0 0 2 7 ( a ) ; B o

y d v

. S t a t e , 1 1 S

. W

. 3 d 3 2 4

, 3 2 5 ( T e x

. A p p

. – H o u s t o n [ 1 4 D i s t ] 1 9 9 9

, n o t h

p e t

. )

. H o w e v e r , t h e r e i s a n e x c e p t i o n t o t h e g e n e r a l r u l e w h e n t h e a p p e a l r a i s e s a q u e s t i o n

o f j u r i s d i c t i o n

. I n Ma r t i n v

. S t a t e , 3 4 6 S

. W

. 2 d 8 4 0 ( T e x

. C r i m

. A p p

. 1 9 6 1 )

, t h e T e x a s C o u r t

o f C r i m i n a l A p p e a l s a d d r e s s e d a n i s s u e d s i m i l a r t o t h e o n e i n v o l v e d i n t h i s c a s e

. I n M a r t i n ,

t h e d e f e n d a n t w a s c o n v i c t e d o f v i o l a t i n g a n o i s e o r d i n a n c e a n d w a s a s s e s s e d a f i n e o f

- 3

-$ 1 0 0

. 0 0

. I d

. T h e d e f

e n d a n t a p p e a l e d t o t h e c o u n t c o u r t

. I d

. T h e a p p e a l w a s d i s m i s s e d o n

t h e g r o u n d s t h a t h i s a p p e a l b o n d w a s f a u l t y

. I d

. T h e c o u n t y c o u r t d i s m i s s e d

. I d

. T h e

d e f e n d a n t a p p e a l e d

. I

d

. T h e s t a t e a r g u e d t h a t t h e c a s e s h o u l d b e d i s m i s s e d f o r l a c k o f

j u r i s d i c t i o n

. I

d

. T h e T e x a s C o u r t o f C r i m i n a l A p p e a l s h e l d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a t e c o u r t h a d

j u r i s d i c t i o n t o r e v i e w t h e o r d e r o f d i s m i s s a l

. I d

. a t 8 4 0

- 4 1

. F u r t h e r , t h e C o u r t r e v i e w e d t h e

a c t i o n s o f t h e c o u n t y c o u r t a n d c o n c l u d e d t h a t t h e c o u r t e r r e d i n d i s m i s s i n g t h e c a s e f o r l a c k

o f j u r i s d i c t i o n

. I

d

. ; s e e a l s o Ma t u l a v

. S t a t e , 7 2 T e x

. C r i m

. 1 8 9

, 1 6 1 S

. W

. 9 6 5 ( 1 9 1 3 )

.

I n t h e p r e s e n t c a s e , t h e c o u r t o f a p p e a l s r e c o g n i z e d t h a t t h e c o u r t l a c k e d j u r i s d i c t i o n

u n l e s s a n i s s u e o f

t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n a l i t y o f a s t a t u t e w a s

. H o w e v e r , t h e c o u r t o f a p p e a l s h e l d

t h a t M r

. K h o z i n d a r r a i s e d t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n a l i t y o f t h e w r o n g s t a t u t e

. T h i s w a s e r r o r

. M r

.

K h o z i n d a r r a i s e d t h e i s s u e o f c o n s t i t u t i o n a l i t y o f t h e s t a t u t e t h a t s e r v e d a s t h e b a s i s o f t h e b a r

f r o m h i m r e n e w i n g t h e r e g i s t r a t i o n o n h i s v e h i c l e

. T h e r e f o r e , i f t h e u n d e r l y i n g s t a t u t e w a s

u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l

, t h e n t h e r e g i s t r a t i o n s t a t u t e c o u l d n o t h a v e p r e c l u d e d h i m f r o m r e n e w i n g

h i s r e g i s t r a t i o n

. T h e c o u r t o f a p p e a l s e r r e d i n d i s m i s s i n g t h i s c a s e f o r l a c k o f j u s i d i c t i o n

.

B

. T h e D u e P r o c e s s C l a u s e o f t h e T e x a s a n d F e d e r a l C o n s t i t u t i o n

T h e F o u r t e e n t h A m e n d m e n t t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s C o n s t i t u t i o n p r o t e c t s a g a i n s t

d e p r i v a t i o n o f l i f

e , l i b e r t y , o r p r o p e r t y b y t h e S t a t e " w i t h o u t d u e p r o c e s s o f l a w

. " U

. S

.

C O N S T

. a m e n d

. X I V ; D a n i e l s v

. W i l l i a m s , 4 7 4 U

. S

. 3 2 7

, 3 3 1 ( 1 9 8 6 )

. T h e T e x a s C o n s t i t u t i o n

p r o v i d e s t h a t " N o c i t i z e n o f t h i s S t a t e s h a l l b e d e p r i v e d o f l i f e , l i b e r t y , p r o p e r t y , p r i v i l e g e s

o r i m m u n i t i e s , o r i n a n y m a n n e r d i s f r a n c h i s e d

, e x c e p t b y t h e d u e c o u r s e o f t h e l a w o f t h e

l a n d

. " T E X

. C O N S T

. a r t

. I

, § 1 9

. T h e T e x a s " d u e c o u r s e " a n d f e d e r a l " d u e p r o c e s s "

- 4

-p r o v i s i o n s h a v e b e e n i n t e r p r e t e d t o b e " w i t h o u t m e a n i n g f u l d i s t i n c t i o n

. " U

n i v

. o f T e x

. M e d

.

S c h

. a t H

o u s t o n v

. T

h a n , 9 0 1 S

. W

. 2 d 9 2 6

, 9 2 9 ( T e x

. 1 9 9 5 )

. T h e r e f o r e , i n m a t t e r s o f

p r o c e d u r a l d u e p r o c e s s , T e x a s c o u r t s h a v e t r a d i t i o n a l l y f o l l o w e d c o n t e m p o r a r y f e d e r a l d u e

p r o c e s s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s o f p r o c e d u r a l d u e p r o c e s s i s s u e s

. S e e i d

.

P r o c e d u r a l d u e p r o c e s s g u a r a n t e e s t h e r i g h t t o a f a i r p r o c e d u r e

. M r

. K h o z i n d a r

m a i n t a i n s t h a t h e w a s d e n i e d f a i r p r o c e d u r e d u e t o h i s i n a b i l i t y t o c o n f r o n t a w i t n e s s a g a i n s t

h i m i n t h e c o u r t b e l o w

. F u r t h e r , t h e u n d e r l y i n g s t a t u t e a t t e m p t s t o s e t u p a p s e u d o c r i m i n a l

s t a t u t e f o r t h e i m p o s i t i o n o f f

i n e s w h i c h a r e n o t r e a l l y f i n e s a t a l l

. B u t i n s t e a d

, i s a c i v i l

r e v e n u e g e n e r a t o r

.

I n t h e p r e s e n t c a s e , M r

. K h o z i n d a r h a s a c q u i r e d a p r o p e r t y i n t e r e s t i n t h e v e h i c l e t h a t

h e o w n s

. T h e s t a t u t e i n q u e s t i o n h a s i n e f f e c t d e p r i v e d h i m o f t h e a b i l i t y t o e f f e c t i v e l y u s e

t h i s p r o p e r t y w i t h o u t d u e p r o c e s s o f l a w

. T h e r e w a s n o p r o c e e d i n g t o d e p r i v e h i m o f t h e

a b i l i t y t o r e g i s t e r h i s v e h i c l e a n d t h e r e w a s n o c r i m i n a l v i o l a t i o n t h a t w a s e n t e r e d

. C h a p t e r

7 0 7 a p p e a r s t o h a v e b e e n w r i t t e n a s a p o t e n t i a l r e v e n u e g e n e r a t o r w h i c h i s n o t a p r o p e r

v e h i c l e t o d e n y M r

. K h o z i n d a r t h e a b i l i t y t o r e n e w t h e r e g i s t r a t i o n o f h i s v e h i c l e

.

C

. A C i v i l P e n a l t y C a n n o t S e r v e A s t h e B a s i s t o D e n y R e n e w a l o f A V e h i c l e
R e g i s t r a t i o n

S e c t i o n 7 0 7

. 0 1 7 o f t h e T e x a s T r a n s p o r t a t i o n c o d e s t a t e s :

" I f t h e o w n e r o f a m o t o r v e h i c l e i s d e l i n q u e n t i n t h e p a y m e n t o f a c i v i l p e n a l t y i m p o s e d u n d e r t h i s c h a p t e r , t h e c o u n t y a s s e s s o r

- c o l l e c t o r o r t h e T e x a s
D e p a r t m e n t o f M o t o r V e h i c l e s m a y r e f u s e t o r e g i s t e r a m o t o r v e h i c l e a l l e g e d

t o h a v e b e e n i n v o l v e d i n t h e v i o l a t i o n

. "

- 5

-T e x

. T r a n s

. C o d e A n n

. § 7 0 7

. 1 7

. M r

. K h o z i n d a r m a i n t a i n s t h a t i t i s u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l b a s e d

u p o n t h i s s t a t u t e t o p r e v e n t a p e r s o n f r o m r e n e w i n g t h e i r a u t o m o b i l e r e g i s t r a t i o n p u r u s a n t

t o 5 0 2

. 0 5 9 a n d 5 0 2

. 4 7 1 o f t h e T e x a s T r a n s p o r t a t i o n C o d e

. T E X

. T R A N S

. C O D E § 5 0 2

. 0 5 9 ;

T E X

. T R A N S

. C O D E § 5 0 2

. 4 7 1

. O t h e r c a s e s h a v e a d d r e s s e d s i m i l a r i s s u e s i n o t h e r a r e a s

.

I n t h e a r e a o f b a n k r u p t c y a n d w r i t s o f e x e c u t i o n , c e r t a i n p e r s o n a l p r o p e r t y i s e x e m p t

f r o m e x e c u t i o n

. T h o s e e x e m p t i o n s a r e i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h S e c t i o n 4 2

. 0 0 1 a n d S e c t i o n

4 2

. 0 0 2 o f t h e T e x a s P r o p e r t y C o d e

. T h e r e i s a n u m b e r o f o t h e r i t e m s o f p e r s o n a l p r o p e r t y

t h a t a r e e x e m p t f

r o m s e i z u r e

. S e c t i o n 4 2

. 0 0 2 ( a ) ( 9 ) o f t h e T e x a s P r o p e r t y C o d e s t a t e s :

T h e f o l l o w i n g p e r s o n a l p r o p e r t y i s e x e m p t u n d e r S e c t i o n 4 2

. 0 0 1 ( a ) :

( 9 ) a t w o

- w h e e l e d

, t h r e e

- w h e e l e d

, o r f o u r

- w h e e l e d m o t o r v e h i c l e f o r e a c h

m e m b e r o f a f

a m i l y o r s i n g l e a d u l t w h o h o l d s a d r i v e r ' s l i c e n s e o r w h o d o e s

n o t h o l d a d r i v e r ' s l i c e n s e b u t w h o r e l i e s o n a n o t h e r p e r s o n t o o p e r a t e t h e

v e h i c l e f o r t h e b e n e f

i t o f t h e n o n l i c e n s e d p e r s o n

.

T e x

. P r o p

. C o d e A n n

. § 4 2

. 0 0 2

. S e e a l s o B r o w n v

. D a v i s , 1 2 3 S

. W

. 2 d 3 2 1 ( T e x

. 2 0 0 2 ) ; M i l l e r

v

. Z i m m e r m a n B r u s h C o

. , 4 5 5 U

. S

. 4 2 2

, 4 2 8 ( 1 9 8 2 )

.

I n c i v i l j u d g m e n t s , t h e s t a t e h a s s e t p r o t e c t i o n s ( u p t o a s p e c i f i c a m o u n t ) o n y o u r

v e h i c l e f r o m b e i n g c o n f

i s c a t e d

. I t s h o u l d b e e m p h a s i z e d t o t h e c o u r t

, t h e p u r p o s e o f t h e s e

e x e m p t i o n s i s N O T t o p r o t e c t t h e m o n e t a r y v a l u e o f t h e v e h i c l e f r o m c r e d i t o r s , b u t r a t h e r t h e

n e c e s s i t y t o m a i n t a i n o n e ' s l i v e l i h o o d t h r o u g h t h e u s e o f t h e v e h i c l e

. M r

. K h o z i n d a r

m a i n t a i n s t h a t t h e S t a t e d o e s n o t h a v e t h e l e g a l a u t h o r i t y t o p r o h i b i t t h e m e a n s o f

t r a n s p o r t a t i o n a s p u n i s h m e n t f o r a c i v i l u n p a i d f

i n e , j u d g m e n t

, o r p e n a l t y a s i t d o e s i n

s e c t i o n s 5 0 2

. 0 5 9 a n d 5 0 2

. 4 7 1 p u r s u a n t t o s e c t i o n 7 0 7

. 0 1 7 o f t h e T e x a s T r a n s p o r t a t i o n C o d e

.

- 6

-D

. S e c t i o n 7 0 7

. 0 1 7 o f t h e T r a n s p o r t a t i o n C o d e I m p r o p e r l y A u t h o r i z e s S e i z u r e

W i t h o u t a S e i z u r e

I n s e c t i o n 7 0 7

. 0 1 7 o f t h e T e x a s T r a n s p o r t a t i o n C o d e , t h e S t a t e i s n o t p h y s i c a l l y

s e i z i n g t h e v e h i c l e , b u t i n t h e e y e s o f t h e S t a t e , w h e t h e r i t c o n f i s c a t e s t h e v e h i c l e , o r t h e S t a t e

d e n i e s v e h i c l e r e g i s t r a t i o n , t h e o u t c o m e i s t h e s a m e : t h e o w n e r o f t h e v e h i c l e h a s n o a b i l i t y

t o d r i v e

. A n d t h i s i s t h e c r u x o f t h e i s s u e

. S o i n c o n c l u s i o n , c i v i l p e n a l t i e s , s u c h a s t h e o n e

i n s e c t i o n 7 0 7

. 0 1 7 o f t h e T e x a s T r a n s p o r t a t i o n C o d e s h o u l d n o t b e a l l o w e d a n d c a n n o t b e

a l l o w e d t o c o n f

i s c a t e , o r w i t h h o l d t h e u s e o f y o u r v e h i c l e a s i t h a s a d e t e r m i n i n g f a c t o r o n

y o u r w a y o f l i f

e

. T h e r e f o r e , s e c t i o n 7 0 7

. 1 7

, 5 0 2

. 0 5 9 a n d 5 0 2

. 4 7 1 a r e u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l i n t h i s

s i t u a t i o n

. T h e c o u r t o f a p p e a l s e r r e d i n d i s m i s s i n g t h i s c a s e

.

P R A Y E R F O R R E L I E F

W H E R E F O R E
, P R E M I S E S C O N S I D E R E D
, P e t i t i o n e r , E r i c K h o z i n d a r ,

re s p e c t f u l l y a s k s t h e T e x a s C o u r t o f C r i m i n a l A p p e a l s t o G r a n t t h i s P e t i t i o n f o r D i s c r e t i o n a l

R e v i e w ; t o o r d e r f

u l l b r i e f i n g o n t h e i s s u e o f t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n a l i t y o f t h e s t a t u t e s r a i s e d a n d i n

t h e a l t e r n a t i v e t o r e v e r s e t h e d i s m i s s a l e n t e r e d b y t h e c o u r t o f a p p e a l s a n d t o r e m a n d t h i s c a s e

b a c k t o t h e c o u r t o f a p p e a l s t o a d d r e s s t h e m e r i t s o f t h e c a s e a n d f o r s u c h o t h e r a n d f

u r t h e r

r e l i e f

, e i t h e r a t l a w o r i n e q u i t y t o w h i c h t h e a p p e l l a n t m a y s h o w j u s t e n t i t l e m e n t

.

- 7

-R e s p e c t f u l l y s u b m i t t e d

,

T H E G O O D L A W F I R M

L a w O f f i c e o f K e n W

. G o o d P L L C

5 6 0 4 O l d B u l l a r d R o a d

, S u i t e 1 0 2

T y l e r , T e x a s 7 5 7 0 3 ( 9 0 3 ) 5 7 9

- 7 5 0 7 ( 8 6 6 ) 3 8 1

- 0 4 5 5 ( F a x )

k e n g @ t y l e r

. n e t

B Y : / s / K e n W

. G o o d

K E N W

. G O O D

S t a t e B a r N o

. 0 8 1 3 9 2 0 0

A T T O R N E Y S F O R P E T I T I O N E R E R I C

K H O Z I N D A R

- 8

-C E R T I F I C A T E O F C O M P L I A N C E

I h e r e b y c e r t i f

y t h a t t h e n u m b e r o f w o r d s i n t h i s d o c u m e n t i s 1 9 5 2 b a s e d u p o n t h e

w o r d c o u n t o f t h e c o m p u t e r p r o g r a m u s e d t o p r e p a r e t h i s d o c u m e n t

.

/ s / K e n W

. G o o d

K e n W

. G o o d

- 9

-C E R T I F I C A T E O F S E R V I C E

I h e r e b y c e r t i f

y t h a t a t r u e a n d c o r r e c t c o p y o f t h e f o r e g o i n g i n s t r u m e n t h a s b e e n

f o r w a r d e d t o a t t o r n e y s o f r e c o r d b y r e g u l a r m a i l u n l e s s o t h e r w i s e i n d i c a t e d b e l o w o n t h i s

t h e 2 9 d a y o f J u n e , 2 0 1 5

.

t h

C a t h e r i n e L u f

t

D e n t o n C o

. D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y ' s O f f i c e
1 4 5 0 E

. M c K i n n e y S t

. S u i t e 3 1 0 0

D e n t o n , T x 7 5 0 4 4

C h a t h e r i n e

. L u f

t @ d e n t o n c o u n t y

. c o m

/ s / K e n W

. G o o d

K e n W

. G o o d

- 1 0

-A P P E N D I X T A B

O p i n i o n a n d J u d g m e n t f o r t h e F o r t W o r t h C o u r t o f A p p e a l s

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A

- 1 1

-

# APPE NDIX A

## COURT OF APPEALS

SECOND DISTRICT OF TEXAS
FORT WORTH



### NO. 02

- 14

- 00515

- CR

ERIC PAUL KHOZINDAR APPELLANT

V.

THE STATE OF TEXAS STATE

----------

FROM COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT NO. 4 OF DENTO N COUNTY TRIAL COURT NO. CR

- 2014

- 01347

- Y

----------



### MEM ORANDUM OPINION 1



### ----------

Appellant Eri c Paul Khozindar appeals pro se from his convict ion for failing

to register his vehicle. We dismiss the appeal for want of jurisdiction

. See Tex.

R. App. P. 43.2(f).

On November 11, 2013, the Town of Hickory Cre ek , located in Denton

County, issued Appellant a citation for failing to have a current registration

1 

### See Tex. R. App. P. 47.4.

### 2 insignia for his vehicle displayed on the windshield

. See Tex. Transp . Code Ann.

§ 502.059(c) (West Supp. 2014), § 502.471 (West 2013 ). A ppellant waived a

jury trial and pleaded no lo contendere to the resulting complaint. See Tex. Code

Crim. Proc. Ann. arts. 45.018, 45.025 (West 2006), art. 45.023(a) (W est Supp.

2014 ). The municipal court found Appellant guilty of the offense charged in the

complaint and entered judgment ordering Appellant to pay “a fine and costs in

the amount of $170

. ” Se e id. art . 45.041 (West Supp. 2014 ).

Appellant appealed to the county criminal court, which was a trial de novo

because the municipal court was not a municipal cour t of record

. Se e id.

art s

. 44.17 , 45.042(b) (West 2006 ) ; see also Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. § § 30.00001

–

.01904 (West 2004 & Supp. 2014 ) (providing for municipal courts of record in

certain cities, not including Hickory Creek )

. Appellant again waived his right to a

trial by jury; he pleaded not guilty to the complaint. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc.

Ann. art . 1.13 (West Supp. 2014)

, art. 27.16 (West 2006 ). A ppellant seemed to

argue in the county criminal court that the county assessor

- collector wrongfully

refused to renew his vehicle registration based on his nonpayment of a civil fine

previously imposed for his failure to stop at a red light at an intersection equipped

with red

- light cameras

. 2 

### See Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 707.002 (West 2011 )

,

§ 707.017 (West Supp . 2014)

. The county criminal court found Appellant guilty

2 

### The rec ord contains no informatio n or evidence regarding this alleged
citation su ch as the date it was issued, the issuing city, or whether Appellant subsequently attempted to renew his registration but was denied based on the unpaid red

- light citation

.

### 3 of failing to have a current registration for his vehicle and entered judgment

ordering Appellant to pay a fine of $1 and all costs.

Appellant filed a notice of appeal to this court and designat ed a partial

reporter’s record, requesting that only his opening statement s in the county

criminal court be transcribed. See Tex. R. App. P. 34.6(c). On appeal, Appellant

argues that transportation code section 707.017

— the statutory provision allowing

a co unty assessor

- collector to refuse to renew a vehicle’s registration if a vehicle

owner fails to pay a red

- light

- camera citation

— is unconstitutional by depriving

him of a property interest without procedural due process. See Tex. Code Crim.

Proc. Ann. ar t. 4.03 (West 2015 ) (providing limited appellate jurisdiction to courts

of appeals over case appealed from municipal court to county criminal court if the

fine imposed exceeds $100 or if “the sole issue is the constitutionality of the

statute or ordinance on which the conviction is based”).

Appellant challenges the constitution ality of section 707.017 based on the

State’s alleged failure to provide him procedural due process before denying his

vehicle registration under the auspices of that statute. He does not in any way

challenge the “ constitutionality of the statute or ordinance on which the conviction

is based”

— transportation code section s 502.059 and 502.471 . Because the fine

assessed by the county criminal court , exclusive of costs, did not exceed $100

and because Appellant is not challenging the constitutionality of section 502.059

or section 502.471 , we have no jurisdiction over his attempted appeal. See id.

Accordingly, we dismiss the appeal. See Cooper v. State , No. 05

- 10

- 01004

- CR,

### 4 2012 WL 3 631237, at *2 (Tex. App.

— Dallas Aug. 24, 2012, pet. ref’d) (mem. op.,

not designated for publication) (citing Boyd v. State , 11 S.W.3d 324, 325 (Tex.

App.

— Houston [14th Dist.] 1999, no pet.) ); Hernandez v. State , No. 04

- 07

-

00085

- CR, 2008 WL 441783, at *1 ( Tex. App.

— San Antonio Feb. 20, 2008, no

pet.) (mem. op., not designated for publication).

/s/ Lee Gabriel

LEE GABRIEL JUSTICE

PANEL: GARDNER, WALKER, and GABRIEL, JJ.

DO NOT PUBLISH Tex. R. App. P. 47.2(b)

DELIVERED: May 28, 2015

## COURT OF APPEALS

SECOND DISTRICT OF TEXAS
FORT WORTH



### NO. 02

- 14

- 00515

- CR

Eric Paul Khozindar

v.

The State of Texas §

§

§

§

§ From County Criminal Court No. 4

of Denton County (CR

- 2014

- 01347

- Y)

May 28, 2015

Opinion by Justice Gabriel

(nfp)



### JUDGMENT

This court has considered the record on appeal in this case and holds that

the appeal should be dismissed. It is ordered that the appeal is dismissed for

want of jurisdiction

.

SECOND DIST RICT COURT OF APPEALS

By /s/ Lee Gabriel Justice Lee Gabriel