JIM MATTOX 

Attorney General 

Supreme Court Building 

P. 0. Box 12548 

Austin, TX. 76711. 2548 

512,475.2501 

Telex 9101874.1367 

Telecopier 5121475.0266 

714 Jackson, sldte 700 

Dallas, TX. 752024508 

2141742-8944 

4824 Alberta Ave.. Suite 160 

El Paso, TX. 799052793 

915/533-3484 

IWl Texas, Suite 700 

Houston, TX. 77002-3111 

713i223.5886 

808 Broadway, Suite 312 

Lubbock, TX. 79401-3479 

8061747-5238 

4309 N. Tenth, Suite B 

,&Allen, TX. 78501-1685 

512,882.4547 

200 Main Plaza, Suite 400 

San Antonio, TX. 782052797 

512/225-4191 

An Equal OppOrtUnityI 

Affirmative Action Employer 

The Attorney General of Texas 

Feb:ruary 21, 1986 

Eoaorablc David Cain Opinion No. JM-441 

Chaitman 

Colmnittee on Transp,Drtation Re: Whether administrative fees may 

Texas Eouse of Representatives be assessed by a justice of the 

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. 

Dear Representative Cain: 

You ask the folloving two questions: 

1. Mcy municipal and justice of the peace 

courts assess an administrative fee to defendants 

in administering provisions of article 6701d, 

section 1#13A, V.T.C.S.? 

2. May municipal and justice of the peace 

courts awess an administrative referral fee to 

Texas Department of Safety approved or licensed 

Class 4 CDTS schools which provide driver safety 

courses tso section L43A defendants? 

Section 143A of article 6701d provides for the dismissal of 

certain misdemeanor charges upon completion of a driving safety course 

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 

court contracted with certain providers of approved courses to present 

a list of the prcviders to section 143A defendants. In return, the 

course provider pays the municipal court a fee for each course 

completion by a section 143A defendant. These fees are used to defray 

the costs of administering the section 143A dismissal program. 

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,st the 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:Lon 149 of article 6701d). 

SUMMARY 

Article 6701d dl>es not 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;sinst section 143A defendants or 

against the providers of driving safety courses 

without statutory ;authorizstion. 

Very truly your J & W 

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