New law eliminates license suspension for non-payment of fines

Individuals who fail to pay tickets for most non-moving violations will no longer face the loss of their driver’s license. The “License to Work Act” removes the penalty of suspension for a number of offenses, including parking tickets and tollway violations.

Previously, the state suspended more than 50,000 licenses per year for failure to pay tickets, fines, and fees. Supporters of the legislation hope that it will enable people to continue working and earning money to pay the fines and fees. At the same time, opponents fear it will make it easier to ignore fines and fees, and by extension, the laws that result in those fines and fees.

The legislation passed the Senate in 2019.

Steve McClure

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