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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | November 6, 2013 08:42 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Jake Wheatley, Jr. |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Increasing Eligibility for the Occupational Limited License |
| In the near future, I intend to introduce legislation that would amend Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to expand eligibility for the Occupational Limited License (OLL). OLLs allow drivers with suspended licenses to drive for a limited set of purposes under significant restrictions. For instance, OLL drivers may drive when it is necessary to their occupation, work, trade, medical treatment, or study. This helps offenders continue working, studying, etc. while they serve their sentences, allowing them to improve their circumstances and make positive life choices in an effort to avoid recidivism. Without this legislation, offenders risk loss of income – impairing their ability to make restitution and continue supporting themselves, being forced to discontinue their education, or having to forego medical services. It is important to balance the need to impose justice and instill in offenders the gravity of their offenses with the need to avoid removing their tools for rehabilitation and future success. This legislation would bring license suspensions for driving under the influence of controlled substances in line with driving under the influence of alcohol. Currently, drivers without any prior offenses who are convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol can apply for an OLL after 60 days of serving their suspension, whereas drivers without any prior offenses who are convicted of driving under the influence of controlled substances must serve out their entire suspension for that portion of a compounded suspension before applying for an OLL. Please join me in supporting this legislation to help reduce recidivism and help make Pennsylvania safer. |
Introduced as HB1916