Gov Pritzker today signed the License to Work Act, which eliminates driver's license suspensions for

[beachbumbob]

most non-moving violations and allows tens of thousands of Illinoisans whose licenses were canceled, suspended or revoked to have their driving privileges reinstated.

“With this bipartisan legislation, Illinois now recognizes the fact that suspending licenses for having too many unpaid tickets, fines, and fees doesn’t necessarily make a person pay the bill — but it does mean that people don’t have a way to pay,” said Governor JB Pritzker, who also has called for reform for the past several years. “We, as a state, have a vested interest in making sure all our residents who need their licenses to apply to a job or an apprenticeship program, or who already use their licenses to drive to work, to the grocery store, or to the doctor, don’t lose those opportunities because of a practice that reinforces cycles of instability.”

More than 50,000 Illinois licenses are suspended each year because drivers cannot afford to pay tickets, fines, and fees. Suspended licenses hinder an individuals’ ability to maintain employment and pay off fines and fees, keeping people trapped in a cycle of debt and unemployment.

Senate Bill 1786 takes effect on July 1, 2020

This is how a commonsense democratic Governor does it

[rampartc]

1. as long as you can lose ot for drunk driving and reckless driving i'm ok

[mucifer]

2. Parking tickets and fees in Chicago have been out of control

It's been very hard on low income families. Lots of people have moved out of the city.

Governor Pritzker and Mayor Lightfoot both have been changing this. We have a great team here in Chicago!

[True Blue American]

3. Shame Ohio does not do the same.

I know a couple of young people who work hard, but made mistakes they are now trying hard.to rectify. There is no bus service for them.

[lark]

4. It's a crying shame that this isn't the law for the entire land.

Definitely have exceptions for drunk driving or vehicular manslaughter, but keep them limited to that.

[beachbumbob]

13. first sentence says all you need to know

[Progressive Jones]

15. That won't change. This is about minor speeding tickets, parking tickets, and other minor offenses.

[Lonestarblue]

5. Our system of fines needs an overhaul.

I’ve never understood how putting a poor person who can’t afford to pay a parking ticket in jail is even legal. It helps no one. The poor people lose their jobs when they don’t show up for work, and then they certainly have no money. And cities make thing worse by not investing in mass transit or even affordable parking so people have to drive to their jobs and then have no legal place to park. If you’re lucky enough to snag an on-street parking space, you’ll have to move your car after two, three, or four hours because cities limit how long you can park.

If people were paid decent wages, they might be able to afford to pay their fines. I would hate to be poor in American cities. Far too many of our local governments only look for how much money they can take from their citizens, not how to improve their lives.

[mucifer]

7. The city also has to pay for jails, kids end up in foster care which is another cost

People in jail sometimes learn to be actual criminals. So then the government pays for their court cases and prison time.

It's insane from a financial perspective for the government to do this.

[griloco]

6. YeahBut, surely there's an addendum to deal with

Chemically-laden, brain-leeching, RedChinese, MadMAGAHatters...?

[marble falls]

8. This is a lot bigger than some might think. These suspensions turn a lot of people into ...

into criminals and and make then unemployable.

Like it was posted above: this should be the law of the land.

And we need to eliminate taking licenses for any reason other than traffic violations.

[rickyhall]

9. Our system of justice needs overhauled, too.

Jailing people for non-violent offences is also counter-productive. Pay for locking then up, feeding & taking care of their dependents, removal of a taxpayer, etc. Totally inefficient. Just punish people for stupid stuff. Besides most people learn to be criminals "inside".

[PatSeg]

10. Governor Pritzker

has been awfully impressive. A short time ago I read about him pardoning , 11,000 weed convictions and now this. He is doing things that actually help the people he serves. We need to see more leaders like this.

[Progressive Jones]

16. When all is said and done, there will be some 800,000

weed convictions expunged. It's time consuming. They've even come up with a way to do them in "bulk".
One judge can sign off on a stack of them at a time.

[PatSeg]

17. In spite of all the pain and suffering

the country is experiencing, there have been a few positive aspects. Sad that it takes a pandemic to get things like this accomplished.

[gab13by13]

11. No worries if your last name is Gaetz.

[Fla Dem]

12. Bravo! Common Sense at work.

[BunnyMcGee]

14. Thanks

I live in Illinois and I missed this