SUBJECT
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Public Hearing and Introductory Ordinance of the City of Laredo, Texas, amending Ordinance 2024-O-110 of the City of Laredo to authorize and penalize repeat U-Turn offenders, allow them to cross and charge the following: authorizing to increase the insufficient fund fee to $500.00 for the 1st U-Turn Offense plus the per axle toll fee, $1,000.00 for the 2nd U-Turn Offense plus the per axle toll fee and $2,000.00 for the 3rd U-Turn Offense plus the per axle crossing fee for southbound commercial vehicles that arrive at the toll booth with insufficient funds in the automatic vehicle identification (A.V.I.) account and if an A.V.I. account has more than three (3) insufficient fund U-turns, the account will be suspended and charged a re-activation fee of $200.00. The company must leave a credit card on file and schedule automatic replenishment of funds as further described in Exhibit “A” and hereby repealing all conflicting sections in all ordinances currently in effect.
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PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION
On June 10, 2024, City Council approved the final reading amending Section 1 of Ordinance 2024-O-110 of the City of Laredo and authorized to increase the insufficient fund fee to $100.00 plus the $4.75 per axle fee for southbound commercial vehicles that arrive at the toll booth with insufficient funds in the Automatic Vehicle Identification (A.V.I.) System as further described in Exhibit “A” and hereby repealing all conflicting sections in all ordinances currently in effect.
BACKGROUND
The need to increase the insufficient fund fee for southbound commercial vehicles utilizing the Automatic Vehicle Identification System (A.V.I.) is to continue to avoid a disruption to the flow of traffic.
Currently when a vehicle arrives at the toll booth and the A.V.I. account associated with that vehicle does not have enough funds to cover the toll fee, the vehicle is not allowed to continue into Mexico and is advised to turn around and exit the toll facilities.
The average insufficient fund U-turns per month at Colombia Solidarity Bridge is 15 and at the World Trade Bridge is 129. (based on last 12 months).
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
On April 22, 2026 the Port of Entry Advisory Committee was made aware of this process and unanimously agreed to increase the insufficient fund fee to continue to decrease the U-turn occurrences. The committee proposed the following:
1st U-Turn Offense $100.00 plus the per axle crossing fee
2nd U-Turn Offense $200.00 plus the per axle crossing fee
3rd U-Turn Offense $300.00 plus the per axle crossing fee
4th U-Turn Offense $400.00 plus the per axle crossing fee
5th U-Turn Offense $500.00 plus the per axle crossing fee
* Suspend account and charge a re-activation fee of $200.00
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Increase the insufficient fund fee to $500.00 for the 1st U-Turn Offense plus the per axle toll fee, $1,000.00 for the 2nd U-Turn Offense plus the per axle toll fee and $2,000.00 for the 3rd U-Turn Offense plus the per axle fee for southbound commercial vehicles that arrive at the toll booth with insufficient funds in the A.V.I. account and if and an A.V.I. account has more than three (3) insufficient fund U-turns, the account will be suspended and charged a re-activation fee of $200.00.
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Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Year: 2026
Budgeted Y/N?: Yes
Source of Funds: Fees
Account #: 553-4015-351-1059 & 553-4061-351-1059
Change Order: Exceeds 25% Y/N: N/A
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The estimated monthly financial impact if the average U-turns per month continue will be approximately $72,000.00.