Month-long wait instances turn out to be norm as backlog of expired automobile registration tops 60K
AUSTIN (KXAN) – In the midst of the week, the road at Travis County’s foremost tax workplace doesn’t look lengthy. Everybody inside is seated in one of many chairs spaced six toes aside contained in the foyer.
However the line to get a title switch or to get a Texas tag in Travis County is hundreds of names lengthy. Routinely, just one date is obtainable for an appointment listed on the county’s web site. The earliest obtainable date is often greater than a month away.
It was an issue for Carole Carlos, who moved to Austin from California in early August. Her California tags have been set to run out quickly after she arrived. Not like those that are attempting to resume their registration, Carlos has to return to the workplace in particular person, as a result of that is her first time registering a automobile in Texas.
“Each time I went on to look there was nothing obtainable. I known as as a result of I don’t know what to do. It’s going to run out,” stated Carlos. “They stated to maintain checking day-after-day.”
The pandemic has created a collision of points for the Travis County Tax Workplace. Firstly of the pandemic, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott waived sure automobile registration, titling and parking placard rules. Abbott stated then, the transfer would assist “Texans keep away from pointless crowds and in-person contact with out worry of being penalized.”
“That was factor. We didn’t need individuals wandering round once they didn’t have to,” stated Travis County Tax Assessor-Collector Bruce Elfant.
However when the waiver expired in early April 2021, Elfant says suddenly it had greater than a years’ price of individuals coming in to do paperwork. Initially, the workplace had a backlog of 300,000 titles and registrations that individuals had not finished within the earlier yr.
“We nonetheless assume that we’re most likely 60,000 backlogged with registrations, and we nonetheless actually don’t know what number of titles are backlogged,” stated Elfant.
The 60,000 automobile registrations the workplace estimates it nonetheless must do, doesn’t account for individuals who are new to Texas and are required to return in particular person to start processing their registration. Elfant says staffing shortages are additionally crippling the companies’ potential to chop via the backlog. The workplace has resorted to outsourcing a few of the processing work for dealership titles to Lubbock County.
However, regulation enforcement has resumed ticketing for expired registration and title violations. The Austin Police Division stated final Thursday, it had not directed officers to point out leniency on expired registration, titles, or expired driver’s license violations. Although, Elfant says his workplace is now within the technique of drafting a letter to regulation enforcement in regards to the backlog on the tax workplace.
“We’re within the technique of getting a letter out to all regional regulation enforcement right here in Travis County to apprise them of what the state of affairs is, and actually encourage them to provide individuals some slack throughout this era the place we’re so backlogged,” stated Elfant.
Since April 2021, when the waiver was lifted, APD has issued greater than 200 tickets for expired registration violations, in keeping with Austin Municipal Court docket data. They’ve issued zero tickets since then for title-related violations. The Travis County Sheriff’s Workplace has not but offered knowledge on what number of site visitors violations associated to registration and titles have been issued this yr.
Whereas those that are new to Texas and those that want title transfers nonetheless should make appointments to be served – a number of of the providers could be assessed with out ever coming into the county tax workplace. Car registration renewals could be finished on-line or at H-E-B grocery shops. There are additionally personal title firms that cost an extra payment to course of title transfers.
