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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | June 21, 2019 10:27 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Jake Wheatley, Jr. |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Driver’s License Amnesty Program |
| Did you know PennDOT estimates there are over a million suspended drivers licenses in Pennsylvania? Across the political spectrum, nearly everyone knows at least one person who constantly faces barriers to employment or is forced to choose between taking their children to school or a doctor’s appointment and risk further suspension penalties. It becomes all too easy to fall into a vicious cycle of suspensions, fines and penalties that eventually add up to a point where an individual can never get out from under and creates less incentive to rectify the situation. My legislation would establish a Driver’s License Amnesty Program for a one year period for individuals who would still be required to serve the suspension for their underlying offense, but would provide amnesty for all subsequent suspensions for driving while suspended and provide the opportunity for a payment plan or community service to satisfy all financial penalties. In recent years, we’ve passed legislation to end the practice of over-using license suspensions as a penalty. We recognized in a bipartisan manner that creating employment barriers and setting people up for endless suspensions shouldn’t continue going forward. The Driver’s License Amnesty program would offer the same opportunity to those already caught in the system to get a fresh start as well. I believe this legislation would not only impact, but directly benefit Commonwealth residents in every corner of the state. I encourage all my colleagues to join me in cosponsoring this significant legislation. |
Introduced as HB80