Eric is a 55-year-old resident of Tampa, Florida. His driver’s license has been suspended since 2011 for failure to pay a total of $7,400 in court fines and fees in Hillsborough and St. Lucie counties. He is on social security disability benefits and receives just over $600 per month. He would like to get on a payment plan to pay a small sum each month on the amounts he owes each county. However, he has been unable to obtain a payment plan from either clerk of court because he cannot afford the downpayment they required of him in St. Lucie county and his cases in Hillsborough County have been sent to collections. He has written judges to request them to intervene and order him to be put on a payment plan but his requests have been denied.
Eric had a Class B CDL license and if his license was reinstated, he would try to find a job driving trucks. In addition to being able to secure employment, he would also be able to drive to doctor’s appointments, the grocery store and family gatherings, instead of relying on friends and family to drive him.