AAA Texas: Gasoline Prices Drop in Texas to Same Level as Four Years Ago Today

(IRVING, TEXAS) ---- The average gas price in Texas decreased another four cents to $2.55 for a gallon of unleaded regular fuel and the national average also decreased four cents since last week settling at $2.69, according to the AAA Texas Weekend Gas Watch. Texas continues to be well below the national average – again this week it’s 14 cents less than the national average price.

The cheapest average for a gallon of gasoline is in Houston at $2.49, down a nickel from last week.  Motorists in El Paso are paying the most at $2.73, which dropped two cents since last week. Gasoline prices fell in every monitored market in the state, ranging from a six-cent fall in Dallas to two cents in El Paso, Beaumont and Austin/San Marcos.

At $2.55 a gallon in Texas, the cost of a gallon of gasoline is identical to what it was on Aug. 26, 2005 -- four years ago today.

School districts can now instantly check the driving records of their school bus drivers online, using the www.Texas.gov website.  DPS began offering the online driver record checks in early August and since then, more than 6,000 records have been requested by school districts across the state. “We are pleased that we can offer a convenient, secure and fast way for school districts to review the driving records of their school bus drivers,” said Rebecca Davio, DPS assistant director for Driver Licenses. “Being able to get instant feedback will help school districts ensure the safety of the hundreds of thousands of children who ride Texas school buses every day.”

Before the new service, school districts had to order the driving records of their employees by mail, and the process could take weeks before they knew whether a particular driver had tickets that would be a cause for concern.
Now, school districts can access and instantly print out copies of their drivers’ records. The service is provided free of charge to the districts.

AAA Texas Helps Parents Prepare Students for the School Year
Membership offers discounts on wardrobe, computers, supplies and more

(Irving, Texas) – Preparing students for the new school year can be very costly when they begin coming home with lists of supplies and books they will need, as well as the discovery that many of last year’s outfits are too small. The State of Texas’ annual tax-free weekend is scheduled for this weekend, August 20-22, 2010. AAA members also shopping with Show Your Card & Save® partners can save on everything from pencils to laptop computers to a new wardrobe.
In the current economy, many are looking for ways to get clothes and supplies on a budget as they get their kids ready for the new school year. Smart shoppers will take advantage of discounts to stretch back-to-school budgets.

“Many Texas families are very budget conscious as they prepare for the expense of getting their children ready for the new school year,” AAA Texas/New Mexico Corporate Communications Manager Dan Ronan. “We are pleased to offer members savings on the items needed to ensure a successful school year.”

The Texas Comptroller’s office has a complete list of items that qualify for the tax-free exemption: http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/taxpubs/tx98_490/tx98_490.html. Visit www.AAA.com/discounts for details on available discounts and a complete list of retailers and offers.

AAA’s Show Your Card & Save program is the largest member discount program in the world offering more than 164,000 locations for savings worldwide including 110,000 retail locations in North America and popular online retailers. Visit www.AAA.com/discounts.

Twenty-nine recruits graduated from the DPS Training Academy this morning. They were the first to graduate from the Department’s Advanced Recruit School.

All 29 were already police officers when they entered the eight-week school, and all had guaranteed duty stations before they started the course. In about two weeks, the brand-new troopers will report to their duty stations, where they will spend the first six months in on-the-job training with a senior trooper.

Steven C. McCraw, director of the DPS, told the graduates that he expects them to protect and serve Texas with integrity and professionalism. “You are joining an elite group today, and I expect you to conduct yourself with the utmost integrity. Welcome to the best law enforcement agency in the United States,” he said.

Graduation guest speaker Timothy Braaten, executive director of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Education, said that DPS, like all law enforcement agencies, must hire quality candidates and train them well.

“Police agencies must hire for character and train for competence to ensure law enforcement excellence,” Braaten said.

After gaining experience, troopers can compete for a variety of assignments including criminal investigative agents involved in organized criminal investigations, intelligence and counter terrorism, protective services; and Texas Rangers.

Anyone interested in becoming a state trooper can obtain additional information on the DPS website, www.joindps.com. Potential applicants can call a toll-free number, 1-866-TXTROOP (898-7667), that rings directly into the recruiting office at DPS Headquarters in Austin. DPS is an equal opportunity employer.

The Texas Department of Public Safety’s Driver License website has a new look and feel.

The redesigned Driver License website (http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/DriverLicense/) features easy-access links to the most-visited portions of the DPS Driver License website.

“The increased functionality of our Driver License website will help our fellow Texans to find the information they need, quickly and efficiently,” said Rebecca Davio, DPS assistant director. “We think many people will be able to conduct their driver license-related business on our website, when it’s most convenient for them, instead of having to follow our schedule.”

Regional Leaders to Discuss I-69 Development
Corridor Segment Committee to guide TxDOT planning

AUSTIN - Regional leaders are set to meet Friday, July 23 as part of a long-term public involvement effort, providing guidance and local perspective to develop I-69.

I-69 Corridor Segment Committee One is one of five regional citizen advisory groups meeting throughout the I-69 Corridor to help the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) plan projects along the I-69 corridor to suit local and regional needs and improve mobility throughout the corridor. Committee One has jurisdiction from Bowie County southward to Angelina County. Fridays meeting will include a review of draft conceptual interstate layouts as part of the ongoing process of developing a segment committee-based program of individual projects.

TxDOT issued a revised vision for corridor development and planning in 2009, calling for increased local participation in planning efforts. The new vision, Innovative Connectivity in Texas | Vision 2009, divides the major corridors, including the I-69 Corridor, into a series of smaller, more locally-focused corridor projects that will first focus on improving existing facilities.

Members of I-69 Corridor Segment Committees represent metropolitan planning organizations, counties and other entities with an interest in transportation such as cities, chambers of commerce, economic development organizations and others. All Corridor Segment Committee meetings are open to the public, and a complete listing of corridor advisory committees, members and meetings is available online by visiting http://www.txdot.gov/public_involvement/committees/.

Who:I-69 Corridor Segment Committee One

Where:Historic Harrison County Courthouse
200 W. Houston
Marshall, TX 75670

When:9 a.m.-noon Friday, July 23, 2010

AAA TEXAS: Texas Drivers Seeing a Period of Stability in Terms of Gasoline Prices for First Half of 2010

(IRVING, TEXAS) ---- The average gas price in Texas stayed the same from last week, at $2.56, for a gallon of unleaded regular fuel and the national average remained the same week-to-week at $2.72, according to the AAA Texas Weekend Gas Watch. The statewide average is 16 cents below the national average.

The cheapest average for a gallon of gasoline is in Houston at $2.51, where prices dropped by one cent. Motorists in El Paso are paying the most at $2.69, which remained the same since last week.

What’s influencing the market?

• Oil prices this year continue to trade in a general range between $73 and $85 a barrel. Today, oil is trading at $78. That’s up from last week, when it was trading in the $75 range. There’s been one spike this year in oil prices, when it hit a year-to-date high of $92 a barrel in mid-April. The year-to-date low for oil prices in the U.S. was $70 a barrel in mid-May.
• Prices seem content to hover broadly in the $70-$80 per barrel level, fluctuating only slightly amidst competing economic signals and some recent data that the U.S. economic recovery may be slowing down.
• It is helpful to put this summer’s lack of price volatility into some historical perspective. Retail prices are up by about 25 cents per gallon from this time in 2009. A year ago today, the average price of self-serve regular was $2.46. Two years ago at this time, the national average for self-serve soared over $4 per gallon. On July 17, 2008, Texas recorded the state's all-time highest average price at $3.98.

RTxDOT to hold Elderly & Disabled Transportation Program Workshop

Atlanta, Texas - A workshop regarding TxDOT’s Elderly & Disabled Transportation Program is scheduled for August 17, 2010 in TxDOT’s Atlanta District Office – Room 26 located at 701 East Main in Atlanta. The meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m.

The purpose of the workshop is to provide public involvement in the identification of transportation barriers, restrictions and unmet needs as it pertains to the elderly and disabled population of the TxDOT Atlanta District.

The meeting will also evaluate the current year’s activities, review plans and goals for the next two years, and to select projects for FY 2011. Anyone who is aware of transportation related needs, services or solutions for the elderly and persons with disabilities living in Bowie, Camp, Cass, Harrison, Marion, Morris, Panola, Titus and Upshur counties are encouraged to attend the meeting.

The presentation will be conducted in English, and will include handouts which will be projected onto a screen. Persons with language interpreters or other special communication needs, or disabilities who have special accommodation needs and who plan to attend this meeting should contact Sonya Hudson, at (903) 799-1310, on or before Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2010. TxDOT will make every reasonable effort to accommodate these needs.

More information regarding the 5310 Elderly and Persons with Disabilities Program is available on the TxDOT webpage located at http://www.txdot.gov/business/governments/grants/programs.htm

DPS Troopers seize more than $2 million in cash

Texas Highway Patrol troopers seized $2,009,700 in cash during a traffic stop Friday in La Pryor in Zavala County.

The 18-wheeler was stopped at 3:30 p.m. Friday at the intersection of State Highway 57 and U.S. 83 for speeding and not having a front license plate. After written consent was given, troopers searched the truck and trailer and discovered the cash in two duffel bags. The driver of the truck denied ownership of the cash and was released.

DPS Criminal Investigations agents in Eagle Pass will continue the investigation.

AAA TEXAS: GASOLINE PRICES DROP IN TEXAS, REMAIN WELL BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE

(IRVING, TEXAS) ---- The average gas price in Texas fell four cents to $2.57 for a gallon of unleaded regular fuel and by three cents nationally to $2.72, according to the AAA Texas Weekend Gas Watch. Texas continues to be well below the national average -- this week it’s fifteen cents less than the national average price.

The cheapest average for a gallon of gasoline is in Houston at $2.53, where prices dropped by four cents. Motorists in El Paso are paying the most at $2.69, which is down three cents from last week.

What’s driving the market?

• Oil prices are relatively stable, starting the week in the $72-per-barrel range and today trading at just above $75 a barrel. During the last 52 weeks, oil prices have gone from a low of $66.45 to a high of $91.38. Right now, oil is in the lower third of the trading range.

• To present an historical perspective, the Independence Day holiday is one of the signature price points of the summer driving season. This year, the national average retail price for a gallon of self-serve regular on July 4 was $2.74, 12 cents more than last year’s holiday price of $2.62, but significantly lower than the $4.10 average of 2008 and about 20 cents less than Fourth of July prices in 2007 ($2.95) and 2006 ($2.93).

Public Safety Commission approves Driver Responsibility Program changes

The Texas Public Safety Commission approved proposed changes to the Driver Responsibility Program rules during their meeting Thursday. The changes will be published for public comment in the Texas Register and then be presented for adoption by the Commission, probably at the September meeting.

The proposed amnesty program:
• Will apply to individuals who have been in default, and the Department will determine the time in default for each amnesty period
• Reduced amount will be 10 percent of total surcharges owed, not to exceed $250
• Will rescind suspension for those who receive amnesty while payments are being made

The proposed indigency program:
• Will apply to individuals at or below 125 percent of poverty level, or with a debt-to-income ratio of at least 50 percent, using a sworn affidavit
• Reduced amount will be 10 percent of total surcharges owed, not to exceed $250
• Will rescind suspension for those who receive indigency while payments are being made

The proposed incentive program:
• Individuals will pay a reduced amount if all three years are paid in full
• Reduced to 50 percent of what’s owed if paid within 30 days after notice
• Reduced to 60 percent if paid within 60 days after notice
• Reduced to 70 percent if paid within 90 days after notice

OR

Reduced payments for continued compliance
• First year, pay 100 percent
• Second year, reduced by 50 percent
• Third year, reduced by 75 percent

If approved, the programs would be phased in over several months:
• The Amnesty program would be implemented during tax season
• The Indigency program would be implemented immediately after Amnesty, which will allow for better fiscal analysis
• The Incentive program would be evaluated for implementation

(The Driver Responsibility law, passed during the 78th Texas Legislative session, established a system to assess surcharges based on certain traffic offenses that occurred on or after September 1, 2003. The 81st Texas Legislature amended the law to require a reduction for indigent individuals.)

In other business, the Commission:
• Named DPS General Counsel Stuart Platt as the interim Inspector General for the agency. The commission will initiate a nationwide search for a permanent Inspector General.
• Approved spending $10 million in bonds for repairs and renovations to DPS buildings across the state
• Approved accepting the donation of a radio tower from Colorado County. The radio tower is built on land already owned by DPS.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: AAA TEXAS: NOW IS THE TIME TO PREPARE FOR A HURRICANE THREAT

(IRVING, TEXAS) --- With Tropical Storm Alex now in the Gulf of Mexico and a possible threat to some areas of the Texas Gulf Coast later in the week, there’s still time to make preparations to ensure the safety of your family and your home, according to AAA Texas.

Even if the brunt of the storm misses the Texas coast, the area could expect to experience strong wind, heavy rain, high surf and flash flood watches, according to the National Weather Service.

“With the 2010 hurricane season now underway, typically, you don’t want to leave your preparations until the last minute,” said AAA Texas Corporate Communications Manager Dan Ronan. “If you haven’t already done so, it’s important to make a plan and gather supplies now.”

Experts agree that the first thing to formulate is a family disaster plan. Decide where everyone should go if people are at home, work, school or in a car when a hurricane warning is issued.

“The family disaster plan should be updated every school year as places of employment or residence change. Generally, going to the closest safe place usually is best,” Ronan said. “After the emergency has passed, designate a place where family members can meet, if separated.”

Assemble a disaster supply kit. Supplies should include water, food, first aid supplies, bedding, tools and emergency supplies. Be sure to include prescription medications along with formula and diapers for babies. Perishable items should be replaced every six months. For help in assembling a complete disaster supply kit, contact the American Red Cross for a free brochure.

“Assembling all the necessary items is an important step,” said Ronan. “But keeping all of these supplies in one, easy to access location is equally as important.”

Other important preparations include:

• Designate an emergency contact person outside your town and inform him/her of your plans.

• Be sure to keep your vehicle filled with gasoline and have a supply of cash on hand.

• Keep a battery-powered radio handy.

• Protect all windows with shutters or plywood.

• Check the tie downs on mobile homes.

• Contact your insurance agent to learn of your coverage for damage caused by floods and high winds.

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AAA Texas has served members since 1902. Today, AAA Texas provides services to its members that include roadside assistance, auto, home and life insurance products, maps, international and domestic travel planning and reservations; pedestrian and traffic safety programs; automotive pricing, financial services, including consumer loans, deposit accounts and credit cards. Information about these products and services is available on the AAA Texas web site at www.AAA.com.