News

North Carolina House Bill 988: Next Step Act – Revocation of driver’s licenses for failure to pay fine, penalty, or costs

The North Carolina Next Step Act provides that courts may no longer revoke driver’s licenses for unpaid fines and fees unless there is a court finding at sentencing that the person is able to pay and the person’s license should be revoked if the person fails to pay.

Connecticut House Bill 6714: Concerning the cost of telecommunications services in correctional facilities.

This bill would require the Connecticut Department of Corrections to provide telecommunications services at no cost to incarcerated people.

Johnson, et al. v. Jessup

Plaintiffs allege that the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles automatically revokes the drivers’ licenses of people who do not pay their traffic tickets in full within forty days.

Driver’s License Suspensions and the Impact on Young People in Pennsylvania

License suspensions are particularly harmful for young people as it is often a key factor in their ability to finish school, obtain employment, and access healthcare. To understand the scope …

Montana House Bill 217: An act revising laws related to suspension of a driver’s license for nonpayment of fines, fees, or restitution

Montana House Bill 217 provides that a person’s driver’s license cannot be suspended for failure to pay a fine, fee, or restitution.

Personal Narrative: Jason

Jason’s only license suspension stems from a ticket for having two broken car lights. Following the police stop, he never received anything in the mail with information regarding how to pay the ticket or the date and time of his court date. However, about nine months after he was stopped, Livingston was shocked and confused when he received a letter stating that a default judgment was entered against him, he owed the court approximately $850, and his license was suspended.

New Data: Low Incomes – But High Fees – For People On Probation

The imposition of unaffordable probation fees punishes poverty and places them at risk of being jailed when they cannot pay. Most states charge monthly probation fees, while others use “reasonableness” …

Virginia 2018-2020 Budget Bill Amendment 33: Driver’s license reinstatement fee [Ends driver’s license suspension for fines and fees for 1 year]

This budget amendment prohibits Virginia courts from suspending driver’s licenses for unpaid fines and fees between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020.

Fines and Fees and Jail Time in New York Town and Village Justice Courts: The Unseen Violation of Constitutional and State Law

In this report, the Fund for Modern Courts lays out a comprehensive analysis of fines and fees-related due process violations in New York State town and village justice courts.

Martin v. City of Boise

Martin v. City of Boise, 920 F.3d 584 (9th Cir. 2019) This case has been effectively overruled by City of Grants Pass v. Jonson. This case concerns a series of …