.jpg)
WA Drivers Relicensing Taskforce- WDRT
The Drivers Relicensing Taskforce is taking the lead to address our current system that penalizes people for "Driving While Poor." Relicensing programs help, but they are only a band-aid, not the solution. It is time to take action, and we would like your organization to be part of this effort. Washington is currently experiencing an extremely high number of driver's license suspensions (presently estimated at 350,000 persons, or almost 9% of the state's working-age population).
In our state, your driver's license can be suspended for different reasons. In the majority of the cases, your license is suspended until you pay the ticket. Currently, more than 175,000 persons suspended for lack of payment. "It is a poverty penalty," said Travis Stearns of the Washington Defender Association. "There's no question about it. The vast majority of the folks who get suspended licenses are folks who cannot pay simply because they are in a position to not be able to pay." Because of a combination of economic status and police deployment decisions, and in some situations because of racial profiling, people of color are more likely to have suspended licenses for failure to pay a ticket.
In 2000, a Seattle Times investigation found that black drivers in Seattle receive more tickets and are more likely to be cited for defective headlights than are white drivers. As a result, people of color are more likely to be charged with DWLS3
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
.More information
Millions of people across the nation have lost their driver's licenses due to unpaid court debt, including unpaid fines and fees or failure to appear in court. Many lose their jobs and are unable to meet their basic needs such as attending doctor's appointments, taking care of their families, or getting to court.
And, because these basic needs are so important, 83% of Americans with suspended licenses report that they continue to drive multiple times a week. When they do, they risk a criminal conviction, more fines and fees and incarceration.
Driver’s license suspensions trigger a cycle of punishment for poverty that many people spend decades trying to escape.
Poverty should never determine who is free to drive
.More information
January 4th 2021
"The Michigan bill has been signed! It will end to driver's license suspensions for violations unrelated to safe driving, set to take effect in Oct. People whose licenses were suspended for unpaid tickets or failure to appear in court have said they became trapped in a cycle of jail time and mounting fines and fees when they continued to drive to get to work and other places."
January 1st 2021
Drivers in New York State will no longer have to worry about their license being suspended for being unable to pay a traffic fine or fee.
On New Year's Eve, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law the 'Driven by Justice' bill sponsored by WNY State Senator Tim Kennedy (D-63) and Assembly member Pamela Hunter(D-128) from Syracuse.
​
​
Click for more information
Year 2020 Victories: 6 STATES PASS DRIVER'S LICENSE SUSPENSION REFORMS"
Green Color - DO Not suspend licenses for failure to pay
​
Red Color- Suspend license for failure to pay
​
Yellow Color- Legislation is working in this issue
​
​
.More information
