Texas gets $160K in child support linked to car registration

[mstng86]

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Texas has collected more than $160,000 in back child support since starting a program this year that bars some parents who owe money from renewing vehicle registrations.

The Dallas Morning News reported Thursday that December was the first month renewal requests can be denied in the Texas Attorney General's Office program.

The rule applies to parents at least six months behind in child support payments. It does not apply to vehicle titles registered to someone other than the parent owing support or to jointly-owned vehicles.

Records show that since September, more than 7,200 parents received a delinquency notice warning them to arrange a payment plane before their vehicle registration expires.

The Texas Attorney General's Office, in the past fiscal year, has collected nearly $3.9 billion in child support.

http://www.fox4news.com/news/texas/225292632-story

[LANTIRN]

Just more big government bullshit. Oweing child support shouldn't prevent you from registering a car or getting a hunting license. If being a piece of shit parent is really a crime, just arrest them and put them in jail. "But if you put them in jail they won't be able to pay child support". They weren't fucking paying it to begin with. If isn't serious enough to warrant jail time, then leave them alone to be shitty parents and maybe momma will think twice next time before spreading her legs, or she maybe she misses a payment on the Escalade. Personal issues like that shouldn't be the governments business, just like marriage.

[Gasser64]

"But if you put them in jail they won't be able to pay child support". They weren't fucking paying it to begin with. If isn't serious enough to warrant jail time, then leave them alone to be shitty parents and maybe momma will think twice next time before spreading her legs, or she maybe she misses a payment on the Escalade. Personal issues like that shouldn't be the governments business, just like marriage.

Agree. And I hate that argument. "But if you put them in jail they can't pay"!. 1. They already weren't paying. 2. Once they get out of jail, you can be damn sure they will pay. Only the real scum still won't pay, and they're a tiny minority who were never going to have steady work anyway. We're talking about average working joe blow here. They'll pay.

My only question would be, what is the proper time to throw them in jail for? You don't want to completely wreck their lives, by causing them to lose their house and vehicle. Then they really would have a hard time paying. Sitting in jail for any length of time is likely to cause them to loose their job, but fast food is always hiring, until they can land another decent job like they had before they went to jail. So payments are due typically monthly. So maybe the law should say that not paying gets you 3 weeks in the county, no less. Depending on when they went in, with typical grace periods for payments, they'd still be able to pull their asses out of the fire in time, once they got out. Maybe even let them make sure they were all caught up, in case they went to jail on the day that everything was due. From jail of course, with their phone, or a jail computer. Take such steps to ensure they'll be able to pay when they get out.

[CexMashean]

Got problems with the way the child support system is? Don't have kids.

Have kids? Pay your shit, or fight to get it to the right amount.

[jewozzy]

Agree. And I hate that argument. "But if you put them in jail they can't pay"!. 1. They already weren't paying. 2. Once they get out of jail, you can be damn sure they will pay. Only the real scum still won't pay, and they're a tiny minority who were never going to have steady work anyway. We're talking about average working joe blow here. They'll pay.

My only question would be, what is the proper time to throw them in jail for? You don't want to completely wreck their lives, by causing them to lose their house and vehicle. Then they really would have a hard time paying. Sitting in jail for any length of time is likely to cause them to loose their job, but fast food is always hiring, until they can land another decent job like they had before they went to jail. So payments are due typically monthly. So maybe the law should say that not paying gets you 3 weeks in the county, no less. Depending on when they went in, with typical grace periods for payments, they'd still be able to pull their asses out of the fire in time, once they got out. Maybe even let them make sure they were all caught up, in case they went to jail on the day that everything was due. From jail of course, with their phone, or a jail computer. Take such steps to ensure they'll be able to pay when they get out.

This isn't 100% accurate in regards to them being real scum if they don't pay after going to jail. I worked in those courts for a while and there were lots of incidents where the father was paying but simply couldn't pay the amount they were out on. One guy in particular list his job as a high paid home builder when the economy tanked and then started working construction for a fraction of what he was making. He sent every penny he could and lived with his parents sleeping on the floor with no matress. Did the state Care? No, because the state wants their money too. I can't tell you how many times I would see guys put on child support where the payments they were required to make didn't even cover their fees to the state. Meaning the state still got money but not the children.

[LANTIRN]

This isn't 100% accurate in regards to them being real scum if they don't pay after going to jail. I worked in those courts for a while and there were lots of incidents where the father was paying but simply couldn't pay the amount they were out on. One guy in particular list his job as a high paid home builder when the economy tanked and then started working construction for a fraction of what he was making. He sent every penny he could and lived with his parents sleeping on the floor with no matress. Did the state Care? No, because the state wants their money too. I can't tell you how many times I would see guys put on child support where the payments they were required to make didn't even cover their fees to the state. Meaning the state still got money but not the children.

Like almost everything the government does, it is broken and needs a drastic overhaul.

[Broncojohnny]

This isn't 100% accurate in regards to them being real scum if they don't pay after going to jail. I worked in those courts for a while and there were lots of incidents where the father was paying but simply couldn't pay the amount they were out on. One guy in particular list his job as a high paid home builder when the economy tanked and then started working construction for a fraction of what he was making. He sent every penny he could and lived with his parents sleeping on the floor with no matress. Did the state Care? No, because the state wants their money too. I can't tell you how many times I would see guys put on child support where the payments they were required to make didn't even cover their fees to the state. Meaning the state still got money but not the children.

Oh you mean this is all about the state ripping people off at the expense of children? Color me shocked.

[slowturbocar]

I pay child support monthy as my job pulls from my check and i will occasionally send in a $500 additional check and i know what i pay and what she received and it really pisses me off how much they take from the top. The state doesn't give a flying fuck about the person paying, friend of mine was paying 20% on a 6 figure job and has now been let go and is working a $30k year job and is still having to pay what he was a from the previous job so he's always broke and barley getting by.

[chronical]

I have a 15 year old and a 6 year old. The 15 year old i pay child support on as he lives with his mom. My kids have always had insurance and always will. Thats my position plus it is court order on the oldest anyway.

Back in June, I switch careers. I immediately added my two kids and myself to my wives policy. No gap in coverage, through BCBS.

My new employer gets a letter informing them to force enroll me in insurance because it is court order.

We respond by notifying the AG that I already have insurance on my kids and they asked for proof. So we sent in everything they asked for and then some. This was back in October.

I can call and verify that one department has received it as part of their process and that they forwarded to the next department needed. In the interim, my employer was informed they still have to proceed with the forced enrollment.

So because the AG is incompetent and inefficient, my son currently has two insurance policies and I am paying two insurance premiums. WTF

Oh and I don't cancel the policy with my wife because it is $200 a month for me and my kids but the policy at my job is for less coverage and is $600 a month.

[YALE]

Like almost everything the government does, it is broken and needs a drastic overhaul.

It's one more thing they shouldn't be involved in.

[Gasser64]

This isn't 100% accurate in regards to them being real scum if they don't pay after going to jail. I worked in those courts for a while and there were lots of incidents where the father was paying but simply couldn't pay the amount they were out on. One guy in particular list his job as a high paid home builder when the economy tanked and then started working construction for a fraction of what he was making. He sent every penny he could and lived with his parents sleeping on the floor with no matress. Did the state Care? No, because the state wants their money too. I can't tell you how many times I would see guys put on child support where the payments they were required to make didn't even cover their fees to the state. Meaning the state still got money but not the children.

Well to clarify, I was talking about the actual real scum. People we would all consider to be real scum. Meth heads, lazy louts, criminals, etc. The types you're referring to, is just a guy that fell on hard times. They need to have something in place that is automatic, and requires no judge or lawyer or court. That would handle the whole thing for them. I'd say just let the computer handle it. "The computer" could simply do a check on their social security number, every week. It would know what taxes they were paying, and thus be able to adjust the amount they were paying, as often as it was told to do so.

I know, this is all way beyond what we can expect from the lowly government. But they could fix it right up if they wanted to.

[TX_92_Notch]

Well to clarify, I was talking about the actual real scum. People we would all consider to be real scum. Meth heads, lazy louts, criminals, etc. The types you're referring to, is just a guy that fell on hard times. They need to have something in place that is automatic, and requires no judge or lawyer or court. That would handle the whole thing for them. I'd say just let the computer handle it. "The computer" could simply do a check on their social security number, every week. It would know what taxes they were paying, and thus be able to adjust the amount they were paying, as often as it was told to do so.

I know, this is all way beyond what we can expect from the lowly government. But they could fix it right up if they wanted to.

A system like that easily lets people skate the system. I am paid 1099-MISC and I pay all of my guys 1099-MISC. There is zero record of them making a penny all year until I submit the 1099-MISC at the end of the year. I know it's a technicality and I see where you're going, but you know the gov't isn't going to bring common sense into anything they do.

[Gargamel]

In general:
If you are a dude that is involved in a divorce, have children and live in the State of Texas, just be prepared to be F'd by the Texas AG and court system long and hard.

Best case scenario it is a huge, expensive pain in the ass that never lets up until after (and sometimes LONG after) your child's 18th birthday.

At worst... Life Ruining...

Personally I make sure all my shit is paid on time from my paycheck to the AG for my awesome kiddo on a regular basis, and yes they do screw things up.... and yes it will always be your fault.

[GeorgeG.]

So wait.... 100% of child support payments doesn't go to the kids? WTF??!?!

[idrivea4banger]

I pay child support monthy as my job pulls from my check and i will occasionally send in a $500 additional check and i know what i pay and what she received and it really pisses me off how much they take from the top. The state doesn't give a flying fuck about the person paying, friend of mine was paying 20% on a 6 figure job and has now been let go and is working a $30k year job and is still having to pay what he was a from the previous job so he's always broke and barley getting by.

Your friend needs to fill out the form to request a modification to his payments if he's making less. No way I'd continue to make the same payments if I'm making less.