UT HB 143: Driver License Suspension Amendments
This bill ends the suspension of a driver’s licenses solely for the nonpayment of fines or the failure to appear in court. Courts retain the authority to suspend a driver’s …
Failure to Pay
MN H. F. 336
This bill repeals the authority of the commissioner to suspend a license based solely on the nonpayment of a fine or the failure to appear. The bill also requires the …
MA HD2885: An Act to eliminate debt-based incarceration and suspensions
This bill eliminates debt-based incarceration and license suspensions for reasons not related to safe driving. The bill also creates a process for judges to reduce fines and fees if a …
Arizona Senate Bill 1551: Driver license suspensions; restrictions
The Arizona legislature passed AZ SB 1551 ending driver’s license suspensions for failure to pay and failure to appear for traffic violations. The bill also prohibits the suspension or restriction of driving …
Driving DC to Opportunity: Wealth Should Not Determine Who Gets to Keep Their Driver’s License
DC’s Clean Hands Law restricts driver’s license privileges for court debt above $100. This report shows how this law punishes poverty, exacerbates inequalities, negatively impacts employment opportunities, and contributes to …
MA H.3453: An Act to Eliminate Debt-Based Incarceration and Suspensions
The Massachusetts legislature introduced a bill to eliminate debt-based incarceration and license suspensions for reasons not related to safe driving including failure to pay indigent counsel fees or parking tickets. The …
MI HB 5846
Michigan recently enacted legislation eliminating the authority to suspend, revoke, or restrict driver’s licenses for offenses unrelated to driving or vehicles; such as failing to appear in response to a citation or to …
Fees, Fines and Criminal Justice In Tennessee: How It All Works and Why It Matters
In Tennessee, fines and fees are used as both a punishment and a way to fund the justice system and other specific services. This report details the fines and fees …
Individual and Geographic Variation in Driver’s License Suspensions: Evidence of Disparities by Race, Ethnicity and Income
A suspended license can severely limit an individual’s access to healthcare services and social and economic opportunities. However, many states use driver’s license suspension as a compliance tool for violations …
The Price of Justice: Fines, Fees and the Criminalization of Poverty in the United States
Mass incarceration and the rising cost of the justice system correlate with the high number and value of fines and fees imposed throughout the justice system. As federal funding for …