TN Safety Department fees fell short, seeks $7.6M

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Credit wikipedia.org

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security is requesting over 7 and a half million dollars to supplement its budget after a planned windfall from driver's license fees failed to materialize.  A 2011 bill allowed the state to revoke the licenses of people who don’t pay criminal fines and court costs.

Lawmakers expected the change to bring in millions of dollars in reinstatement fees.  But the Chattanooga Times Free Press reports so far only nine counties are complying. The state has collected just a little over 22 thousand dollars.  Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Bill Gibbons sent a letter earlier this month to clerks in all 95 counties reminding them of the law. He says a number of counties are working on methods to provide notices electronically to the state.