Lawmakers introduce bill to prevent the poor from losing license for unpaid traffic tickets

Lawmakers have proposed a bill to end driver’s license suspensions for unpaid minor traffic fines and fees, which generally are assessed on poorer Nevadans.

As introduced by Assemblywoman Cecelia González, AB151 would not remove the fines from tickets but would remove the ability of the courts to suspend driver’s licenses for minor traffic offenses. Driver’s licenses would still be suspended for driving under the influence, reckless driving or an incident resulting in death of a person.

“Debt-based license suspensions force an impossible choice to either stop driving and lose access to work and basic necessities, or to keep driving, thus risking arrest and even more fines and fees,” González, a primary sponsor of the bill, said at the Assembly Judiciary Committee meeting Thursday. “This bill is seeking to address one of the many cycles of poverty and incarceration that we have in our communities.”

Between July 2017 and June 2019, more than 38,000 Nevadans had their driver's licenses suspended because they could not afford to pay outstanding fees or fines associated with a traffic violation, according to the Fines and Fees Justice Center. Leisa Moseley, state director for the center, said at the hearing that research shows people are willing to pay but can’t.

Read more: https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/lawmakers-introduce-bill-to-prevent-the-poor-from-losing-license-for-unpaid-traffic-tickets