Vehicle registration denial

The City of Palmview has entered into an inter-local agreement with Hidalgo County relating to the motor vehicle registration refusal pursuant to the Texas Transportation Code.

Hidalgo County implemented the Scofflaw Program in 2012, which denies motor vehicle registration or renewal for residents who owe outstanding fines and fees past due over 90 days. Residents who are flagged “scofflaw” on the list will be unable to register or renew their motor vehicle registration until the owed amounts are paid in full and the name cleared from the list. Originally implemented for overdue justice of the peace fines and fees, the County recently expanded the Scofflaw Program to include outstanding district and county court fines and fees for felonies and misdemeanors.

In accordance with the Scofflaw Registration Block Program, if you owe money for a citation, a block will be put on your vehicle registration. Thus, not allowing you to register your vehicle until all unpaid citations have been paid in full.

When vehicle registration is denied

The City of Palmview Municipal Court will send the Hidalgo County Tax Assessor-Collector a list of individuals who have outstanding fines. The Tax Assessor’s Office will match those records to the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) vehicle database and flag the matching vehicle records with a Scofflaw flag. The vehicle will no longer be allowed to be registered until all unpaid fines have been paid in full.

Procedure for removing the registration block

The only option to have the registration block removed from the Tax Assessor-Collector’s records is payment in full of all outstanding fines.

The Tax Assessor’s Office has no information about what is owed nor can they answer any questions related to what violation led to the blocked record. Information or inquiries on a registration block must be made to the City of Palmview Municipal Court by 956-432-0329 between 8 a.m.  and 5 p.m, Monday through Friday. Once all outstanding fines have been paid in full, the Court will provide a clearance letter for individuals to take to the Tax Assessor’s office to clear the registration block and proceed with registering their vehicle.