House Committee passes driver's responsibility bills

 Despite the hunting break this week, legislative committees are still meeting.  Yesterday the House Judiciary Committee considered a package of bills that would change the violations for the driver responsibility fees, also known as the "bad driver fees".  The driver responsibility fees passed in 2003 and assess large fees (from $150 to $1,000) for various infractions.  Those who commit "minor" traffic infractions will not be subject to the fees under the law. The driver responsibility fees fund fire protection grants, and Rep. Meadows offered an amendment to HB 4098 that would earmark at least $8.5 million for fire protection grants.  The other bills in the package are HB 4101, 4604 and 5603.