Trending
Recently, the Marietta Times ran an article and an editorial highlighting the devastating impact of driver's license suspension in Ohio. Driver's licenses in Ohio can be suspended for a wide variety of reasons, including debt-related issues. In fact, a recent study completed by the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland reported that roughly 60% of suspended licenses result from reasons other than driving infractions. Kudos to the Marietta Times for highlighting this problem.
This problem has not gone unnoticed in Washington County. Now retired Marietta Municipal Court Judge Janet Welch instituted a number of driver's license reinstatement clinics to assist individuals in seeking reinstatement. The current municipal court judge, Judge Randall Jedlink, has also recognized this issue and will be sponsoring additional reinstatement clinics later this year.
Suspending a driver's license for debt related reasons, rather than limiting this sanction to unsafe driving practices, hurts both job seekers and Ohio's employers. In addition to the local efforts, there are legislative efforts to address this problem. Senate Bill 37, currently under consideration by the Ohio General Assembly, is a step forward to addressing this problem and deserves support. Senate Bill 37 would limit driver's license suspensions to those convictions related to dangerous driving, eliminating the government's authority to revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew a person's license for failure to pay court fines and fees when the offense does not carry a possible jail sentence.
Debt-related suspensions disproportionately impact communities of color and poor communities, particularly in rural areas like ours with very limited public transportation . It is time to change public policy for all Ohioans. A person's ability to pay a fine or a fee should not determine whether they are free to drive. In addition to thanking Times and Marietta Municipal Court for their efforts in addressing this problem, please contact your legislators to support this needed bill.
Robin Bozian
Cutler