Alabama lawmakers in both chambers now have passed a bill that would allow more flexibility with fine and fee payments before a person’s license is suspended.
The bill does not excuse tickets or dangerous drivers, but it would allow people to miss up to three payments on a payment plan for fines and fees before a judge could suspend their license. It would also allow up to one missed court date, outside of an initial date.
When the bill initially went through the Senate, people could miss up to five payments before their license would be suspended. The House’s version brought that number down to three after negotiating with the Attorney General’s office.
“I’ll be honest with you, I wish it’d been maybe four or more, because sometimes people on a payment plan, they can’t make it,” said Rep. Tim Wadsworth, R-Arley, who carried the bill on the House side. “I’d like to have a little bit more, but this was the compromise.”
Read more: AL.com examines policing for profit, fines and fees in ‘Banking on Crime’ series.
Judges are not required to suspend licenses if someone exceeds the missed payment limit or fails to appear in court multiple times, but often use the punishment to enforce traffic violations.
Advocates say the extended grace for drivers will allow more people to keep driving to work, school and family obligations.
Rep. Napoleon Bracy, D-Saraland, said some people might miss a court date because they don’t reside in the same place that is listed as their legal address.
“When you think about failure to appear and suspended drivers licenses, a lot of that happens to poorer people,“ Bracy said prior to the House vote. “A lot of them may be renters, a lot of them may move in and out of the house with their parents, may stay with a girlfriend from time to time. It may be different situations where that person is kind of moving around.”
The bill passed 87-14 in the House on May 16. It now will be considered by Gov. Kay Ivey.
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