Help Minnesotans Drive for Opportunity!

I’m writing today to urge you to include driver’s license suspension reform as part of the conference committee report on HF1684, the Omnibus Transportation Bill. 

The suspension of a driver’s license for unpaid debts often triggers a cascading set of unintended difficulties for an individual and their family. It’s an additional burden that makes it HARDER to get those original debts paid. 

Law enforcement resources should go toward ensuring public safety – not debt collection. The personnel time needed to process each traffic stop related to suspended licenses adds up to more than $10 million in costs to Minnesota taxpayers for time spent detaining, questioning, and processing individuals who pose no risk to public safety.  

While this reform aims to prevent some of the negative collateral consequences, it doesn’t let offenders off the hook. Minnesota has alternatives already in place to ensure accountability including ongoing collections proceedings and ultimately, garnishments, liens, and revenue recapture.   

It’s important to note that this bill only deals with unpaid debts – it does not change suspensions of licenses under Minnesota’s habitual violator law or for any dangerous or negligent driving, including mandatory suspension for DUI.  

Dangerous or unsafe drivers WILL STILL be held to account, but suspensions will be tied to driving behavior and threats to public safety – NOT to someone’s ability to pay.  

Thank you for your time and attention to these important issues!