Shackleford traffic amnesty bill heads to governor’s desk

INDIANAPOLIS – Legislation authored by Representative Robin Shackleford (D-Indianapolis) that would ease the financial burden on Hoosiers who have their driver’s licenses suspended because they are unable to pay fees heads to Governor Eric Holcomb’s desk to be signed into law.

“There are currently an estimated 400,000 Hoosiers with suspended driver’s licenses because of unpaid court fines and reinstatement fees,” Shackleford said. “When Hoosiers can’t drive, they can’t get to work. When Hoosiers can’t get to work, they can’t pay their fees. This legislation would help break that cycle and get Hoosiers back on the road and back to work.”

House Bill 1141 will establish a temporary traffic amnesty program for drivers who have seen their licenses suspended due to unpaid fines incurred before January 1, 2019. Unpaid fines include but are not limited to court costs, administrative fees and late fees. The program will run from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020.

Hoosiers participating in the program do not have to pay a filing fee in order to file a petition seeking a reduction in the fees they owe. If the petition is approved, participants will only pay 50 percent of the court fines and reinstatement fee.

In order to be eligible for driving privileges reinstatement, a person must pay the remaining balance of their fees, provide proof of insurance, and be eligible to have his or her driving privileges reinstated.

“The traffic amnesty program will ease the financial burden of Hoosiers who are unable to pay those fees by reducing them to a manageable cost that may be more affordable,” Shackleford said.