"A Great Victory Decriminalizing Poverty": Driver's Licenses No Longer Suspended for Unpaid Fines in New York | The State
Licensing in NY
Photo:
Edwin Martinez / News
Those New York drivers who cannot pay a traffic fine in full will be able to do so in installments and will no longer face the risk of having their licenses suspended due to that debt, according to a law signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo.
The “Driver’s License Suspension Reform Act” ends the practice of suspending driving licenses for people who have not been able to pay their fines in full and It will allow those who have them inactive due to traffic debt to recover them.
Buffalo State Sen. Tim Kennedy, who sponsored the legislation with Assemblywoman Pamela Hunter of Syracuse, said in a statement that it was “A great victory that decriminalizes poverty and it will give hope and opportunity to drivers throughout New York State, ”he cited Associated Press.
New York drivers who can’t afford to pay the entirety of a traffic fine will be able to do so via installments and will no longer face the risk of their licenses being suspended for that debt. https://t.co/Q7JhjtsNhm
– NBC New York (@NBCNewYork) January 5, 2021
.