Virginia drivers with court fees will no longer be stripped of their license with new law

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

Life will change dramatically for more than 600,000 Virginians whose licenses were revoked for unpaid fees. 

The Department of Transportation is conducting a mass mailing, sending letters to over half a million Virginia residents to notify them that they are eligible to  legally drive again -- as long as their license has not expired. 

Through a budget amendment endorsed by Gov. Ralph Northam, the VA General Assembly passed  a law to reinstate drivers licenses that were suspended over outstanding court fees, which went into effect on July 1. The new law eliminates the $145 reinstatement fee and enables those affected  to get to work on their own and support their families. The Associated Press found that the state of Virginia previously collected $10 million a year from said fees.  The change in legislation also prohibits courts from suspending driving privileges for failure to pay court fines and costs. 

Restoring driving privileges relieves pressure from those who could not afford to pay, which advocates say disproportionately affected those with the greatest needs. 

However, it does not cancel the debt itself.  The license holder is still responsible for paying those fees, but there will be no charge for getting the license back.  

The DMV said the standard procedure will be followed including a vision screening and the first thing customers whose licenses are not expired need to do the get their licenses. Go to DMVNOW.com to make sure your correct mailing address is on file to receive the letter sent detailing the procedure.

The inter-faith, social justice organization VOICE that worked to support this legislation has launched an awareness campaign.   

For additional help getting your license reinstated, contact VOICE spokesperson Rev. Dr. Keith Savage at www.voice-iaf.org.