SPRINGFIELD – Legislation advanced by State Senator Omar Aquino (D-Chicago) would remove driver’s license suspension as a penalty for several offenses unrelated to bad driving, such as falling behind on unpaid tickets.

The measure upholds firm penalties for road and safety offenses while aiming to prevent driver’s license suspensions of good drivers for non-driving related offenses, a practice that supporters of the initiative argue limits job prospects and puts employment at risk.

Originally an initiative of the Chicago Jobs Council (CJC), Senate Bill 2411 is a compromise between the CJC, the Illinois State Police, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Secretary of State’s office.

Over 50,000 Illinois driver’s licenses are suspended each year because drivers can’t pay tickets, fines, or fees.

“For working people, the consequences of not having a driver’s license can be overwhelming,” Aquino said. “Penalizing an individual’s inability to pay a fee by revoking the one privilege they rely on to earn money is counterproductive and perpetuates the cycle of job loss and poverty. Low-income families end up paying a price far greater than just a simple fee.”

SB 2411 eliminates driver’s license suspension as a penalty for non-moving violations, including:

o Falling behind on payment of tickets, fines, fees, or tollway violations
o Motor vehicle fuel theft
o Being judged to be a “truant minor”
o Criminal trespass to a vehicle
o Sales of alcohol to a minor
o Illegal consumption (unless the individual was an occupant of a vehicle at the time of the offense)
o Suffering from a mental disability or disease since the license has been issued

If passed, the legislation would also reinstate driving privileges for individuals whose license was suspended for such offenses.

SB 2411 was approved by the Senate and now heads to the House for consideration.