Illinois
Related: About this forumGov Pritzker today signed the License to Work Act, which eliminates driver's license suspensions for
most non-moving violations and allows tens of thousands of Illinoisans whose licenses were canceled, suspended or revoked to have their driving privileges reinstated.
With this bipartisan legislation, Illinois now recognizes the fact that suspending licenses for having too many unpaid tickets, fines, and fees doesnt necessarily make a person pay the bill but it does mean that people dont have a way to pay, said Governor JB Pritzker, who also has called for reform for the past several years. We, as a state, have a vested interest in making sure all our residents who need their licenses to apply to a job or an apprenticeship program, or who already use their licenses to drive to work, to the grocery store, or to the doctor, dont lose those opportunities because of a practice that reinforces cycles of instability.
More than 50,000 Illinois licenses are suspended each year because drivers cannot afford to pay tickets, fines, and fees. Suspended licenses hinder an individuals ability to maintain employment and pay off fines and fees, keeping people trapped in a cycle of debt and unemployment.
Senate Bill 1786 takes effect on July 1, 2020
This is how a commonsense democratic Governor does it
rampartc
(5,835 posts)mucifer
(24,890 posts)It's been very hard on low income families. Lots of people have moved out of the city.
Governor Pritzker and Mayor Lightfoot both have been changing this. We have a great team here in Chicago!
True Blue American
(18,188 posts)I know a couple of young people who work hard, but made mistakes they are now trying hard.to rectify. There is no bus service for them.
lark
(24,280 posts)Definitely have exceptions for drunk driving or vehicular manslaughter, but keep them limited to that.
beachbumbob
(9,263 posts)Progressive Jones
(6,011 posts)Lonestarblue
(11,927 posts)Ive never understood how putting a poor person who cant afford to pay a parking ticket in jail is even legal. It helps no one. The poor people lose their jobs when they dont show up for work, and then they certainly have no money. And cities make thing worse by not investing in mass transit or even affordable parking so people have to drive to their jobs and then have no legal place to park. If youre lucky enough to snag an on-street parking space, youll have to move your car after two, three, or four hours because cities limit how long you can park.
If people were paid decent wages, they might be able to afford to pay their fines. I would hate to be poor in American cities. Far too many of our local governments only look for how much money they can take from their citizens, not how to improve their lives.
mucifer
(24,890 posts)People in jail sometimes learn to be actual criminals. So then the government pays for their court cases and prison time.
It's insane from a financial perspective for the government to do this.
griloco
(842 posts)Chemically-laden, brain-leeching, RedChinese, MadMAGAHatters...?
marble falls
(62,394 posts)into criminals and and make then unemployable.
Like it was posted above: this should be the law of the land.
And we need to eliminate taking licenses for any reason other than traffic violations.
rickyhall
(4,889 posts)Jailing people for non-violent offences is also counter-productive. Pay for locking then up, feeding & taking care of their dependents, removal of a taxpayer, etc. Totally inefficient. Just punish people for stupid stuff. Besides most people learn to be criminals "inside".
PatSeg
(49,751 posts)has been awfully impressive. A short time ago I read about him pardoning , 11,000 weed convictions and now this. He is doing things that actually help the people he serves. We need to see more leaders like this.
Progressive Jones
(6,011 posts)weed convictions expunged. It's time consuming. They've even come up with a way to do them in "bulk".
One judge can sign off on a stack of them at a time.
PatSeg
(49,751 posts)the country is experiencing, there have been a few positive aspects. Sad that it takes a pandemic to get things like this accomplished.
gab13by13
(25,300 posts)Fla Dem
(25,783 posts)BunnyMcGee
(475 posts)I live in Illinois and I missed this