Bill sought to prevent people losing driver’s licenses

A Memphis-area Democratic lawmaker is hoping to clear up an issue that has resulted in hundreds of thousands of Tennesseans having their driver’s licenses suspended.

Last week Rep. Larry Miller filed a bill aimed at helping those who cannot afford to pay those court costs.

A pair of landmark court rulings this year found the state’s license suspension policies unconstitutional. Ruling in two separate cases, U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger said the state could no longer suspend licenses for unpaid court fees or traffic fines if the driver was unable to pay.

Attorneys in the cases said the rulings could affect hundreds of thousands of Tennesseans.

State attorneys are appealing Trauger’s rulings, but the Department of Safety and Homeland Security is following the judge’s instructions and is no longer suspending licenses if drivers can prove they can’t afford to pay court or traffic fees.

As written, Miller’s legislation would look to create a way to provide some Tennesseans with economic hardships an exemption from having their driver’s license suspended.

This week Miller said in an interview that he was still trying to determine the scope of the issue and the best way to rectify it. He said the legislation likely will change in the coming months.

“The idea behind it is to look at this and see if we can work it to the point where it doesn’t create an economic hardship for a person whose license has been suspended,” Miller said.

Miller said he met with the Department of Safety on Monday, which, he said, seemed receptive to his work on the issue.

“I got that impression,” he said.

Miller said he also was talking with the legislature’s fiscal review office to determine how much his legislation could cost the state.

He said his end goal is to find a way to help the Tennesseans who have had their license suspended for outstanding fees and fines.

Attorneys who have worked on the issue have argued if someone can’t drive, it makes it less likely they can work and earn money and pay off their traffic fines and court fees.

In her ruling last month, Trauger said poor people suffer “both constitutional and material injuries” and “are, or are likely to be, irreparable.”

HOW CAN YOU GET YOUR LICENSE BACK?

There are several ways to determine if you are eligible.

› Call 866-903-7357. This number is for a state reinstatement center. It’s their job to help you determine if you’re eligible to have your driver’s license reinstated and, if you are, help you get it back. Someone should answer calls to that number Monday through Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CST. The number will be busy, so keep calling if you can’t get through to someone immediately.

› Visit this website: dl.safety.tn.gov. You’ll need to fill out a short form, so have your Social Security number and driver’s license number (if you know it) handy. The website will help you determine if you’re eligible for reinstatement.

› Go to an in-person reinstatement center. A full list is available online at the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s website.

Adam Tamburin contributed to this report.

“The idea behind it is to look at this and see if we can work it to the point where it doesn’t create an economic hardship for a person whose license has been suspended.” – TENNESSEE STATE REP. LARRY MILLER