Texas state lawmakers heard powerful testimony Tuesday in Austin from law enforcement officials who want the state to do something about fraudulent paper vehicle tags.
House Transportation Committee hearing Chairman Terry Canales pressed the DMV for answers, saying the legislature gave them the authority in 2021 to begin cutting off small car dealers who were using their dealer licenses to print and sell tags illegally. But the changes were not implemented for seven months.
But Canales questioned why it took the DMV more than seven months to implement administrative rules to crack down on the fraudsters.
"Why would it take so long and why the media has to be the one that uncovers it so that the agency we gave a directive to can actually do something," Canales said.
Daniel Avitia, is the DMV's new acting executive director, and apologized for the delays.
Sgt. Jose Escrobano with the constables office in Travis County, says fake paper tags are a huge problem for law enforcement because they create "ghost cars" that are used in all kinds of felonies, including murders. He says the cars are almost impossible to track.
He also pressed the DMV to close loopholes in which these tags are created.
Some suggested doing away with paper tags in general.
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