Failure to Appear/Pay Program

In Texas, roughly 700,000 drivers face debt-based license holds under the Failure to Appear/Pay (FTAP) Program, i.e., OmniBase. These holds, unlike suspensions for dangerous driving, punish financial hardship by preventing license renewals for low-level, fine-only citations until all court debt is paid. This practice disproportionately impacts low-income individuals and communities of color, pushing many Texans into poverty and unemployment. Texas Appleseed is working to end this harmful program statewide, ensuring that the ability to drive does not depend on one's financial status.