U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Bill to Address Debt-Based Driver’s License Suspensions

What would the bill do?

• Authorize the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to make grants to states that do not suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a person’s driver’s license based on a failure to pay a civil or criminal fine or fee.
• Award grants to (1) cover the costs incurred by a state to reinstate driver’s licenses previously suspended for unpaid fines and fees; (2) maximize the number of individuals with suspended driver’s licenses eligible to have driving privileges reinstated or regained; (3) provide assistance to people living in areas where public transportation options are limited; and (4) ease the burden on states where state or local laws that permitted the suspension or revocation of, or refusal to renew, driver’s licenses or the registration of a motor vehicle based on the failure to pay civil or criminal fines or fees were in effect during the three-year period ending on the date on which a state applies for or receives a grant under this bill.
• Authorize the appropriation of $20 million annually over the 2022-2026 period for the program and would cap grants at 5 percent of the amount a state is allocated under DOJ’s Justice Assistance Grant program.
• Require the Government Accountability Office to study the implementation of the grant program authorized by this bill, including the known effects of repealing state laws that have permitted the suspension, revocation, or refusal of a driver’s license or motor vehicle registration based on the failure to pay civil or criminal fines or fees.

The Driving for Opportunity Act of 2021 is supported by a broad coalition of groups, including the Fines and Fees Justice Center, the American Civil Liberties Union, Americans for Prosperity, Americans for Tax Reform, FreedomWorks, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National District Attorneys Association, the Fraternal Order of Police, Major County Sheriffs of America, the Major Cities Chiefs Association, American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials, Prison Fellowship, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Civil Rights Corps, Due Process Institute, Fair & Just Prosecution, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Vision Zero Network, SPLC Action, The Libre Initiative, Law Enforcement Action Partnership, and Digital Library.

A version of the bill, introduced by U.S. Reps. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Gwen Moore (D-WI), and Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), passed the House Judiciary Committee in April 2021 by a vote of 23-17. The legislation must now pass the House and Senate and be signed by the president to become law.

Photo credit: Elijah Mears on Unsplash