Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits driver's licenses from being suspended because a driver cannot pay any outstanding traffic tickets or fines.

Highlights:

• Requires the commissioner to notify any person who receives a summons and complaint for a traffic violation, of the time and place of the return data for the summons, no later than one week prior to such return date (Sec 2).

• Requires the commissioner to (Sec 2):

• Send the notification mentioned in the previous highlight by first-class mail to the summoned person; and

• Provide an additional notification by text message, electronic mail, or phone call whenever the commissioner has the telephone number or electronic mail address of such person.

• Requires the court or hearing officer to offer a person subject to fines/and or surcharges for violating traffic violations an opportunity to enter into an installment payment plan (Sec 3).

• Requires installment payment plans to be comprised of all fines, fees, and mandatory surcharges and consist of monthly payments that do not exceed 2 percent of a person’s monthly net income or $10 a month, whichever is greater (Sec 3).

• Defines “net income” as a person’s total income from all sources and assets, minus deductions required by law including but not limited to administrative or court-ordered garnishments and support payments (Sec 3).

• Authorizes a court or hearing officer to require the submission of a financial disclosure report on a form from all people who opt to enter into installment payment plans (Sec 3).

• Authorizes a court or hearing officer to require people entering installment payment plans to appear periodically before such court or hearing officer, but no more frequently than annually, to assess their financial circumstances and set a new payment amount if such person’s financial circumstances have changed (Sec 3).

• Authorizes a person who enters into an installment payment plan to petition the court or hearing officer at any time in order to receive a reduction in the monthly payment if the person has experienced a reduction in income (Sec 3).

• Requires any person subject to a fine, fee, or mandatory surcharge to be notified of their right to an installment payment plan (Sec 3):

• At the time that the summons is issued;

• At the time of sentencing; and

• In any communication concerning imposition or collection of a fine, fee, or mandatory surcharge.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits driver's licenses from being suspended because a driver cannot pay any outstanding traffic tickets or fines.

Highlights:

• Requires the commissioner to notify any person who receives a summons and complaint for a traffic violation, of the time and place of the return data for the summons, no later than one week prior to such return date (Sec 2).

• Requires the commissioner to (Sec 2):

• Send the notification mentioned in the previous highlight by first-class mail to the summoned person; and

• Provide an additional notification by text message, electronic mail, or phone call whenever the commissioner has the telephone number or electronic mail address of such person.

• Requires the court or hearing officer to offer a person subject to fines/and or surcharges for violating traffic violations an opportunity to enter into an installment payment plan (Sec 3).

• Requires installment payment plans to be comprised of all fines, fees, and mandatory surcharges and consist of monthly payments that do not exceed 2 percent of a person’s monthly net income or $10 a month, whichever is greater (Sec 3).

• Defines “net income” as a person’s total income from all sources and assets, minus deductions required by law including but not limited to administrative or court-ordered garnishments and support payments (Sec 3).

• Authorizes a court or hearing officer to require the submission of a financial disclosure report on a form from all people who opt to enter into installment payment plans (Sec 3).

• Authorizes a court or hearing officer to require people entering installment payment plans to appear periodically before such court or hearing officer, but no more frequently than annually, to assess their financial circumstances and set a new payment amount if such person’s financial circumstances have changed (Sec 3).

• Authorizes a person who enters into an installment payment plan to petition the court or hearing officer at any time in order to receive a reduction in the monthly payment if the person has experienced a reduction in income (Sec 3).

• Requires any person subject to a fine, fee, or mandatory surcharge to be notified of their right to an installment payment plan (Sec 3):

• At the time that the summons is issued;

• At the time of sentencing; and

• In any communication concerning imposition or collection of a fine, fee, or mandatory surcharge.

Full Bill Text