Driver’s License Suspensions and Revocations
Repealing a Counterproductive Tool to Collect Past Due Fines and Fees
Eleven million Americans face the suspension of driving privileges because of unpaid fines and fees. Suspending and revoking licenses for the collection of court debt, and not violations related to dangerous driving, is bad public policy. Losing a license, even temporarily, jeopardizes a person’s ability to support themselves and their family.
What can state legislators do?
The Institute for Justice offers the Driver’s License Suspensions and Revocations model bill, which provides a framework for states to end the practice of suspending, revoking, or refusing to renew driver’s licenses due to unpaid fines and fees. The model bill encourages policymakers to adopt meaningful reforms rather than temporary or superficial fixes, and to ensure that individuals are not penalized in ways that undermine their ability to work and meet their obligations. It also empowers courts to take a more individualized approach by allowing judges to reduce or forgive court debt based on a person’s ability to pay, including through payment plans or community service alternatives.