from
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/washington-state-to-halt-drivers-license-suspension-for-unpaid-tickets-failure-to-appear-in-court/

(The slide continues. The question remains, How can you
legally force someone to comply to rules?
If a person continually speeds (or any other dangerous
infraction) and never changes their ways, what are
you going to do?)

Washington state to halt driver’s license suspension for unpaid tickets,
failure to appear in court
June 7, 2021 at 5:03 pm Updated June 7, 2021 at 5:03 pm
The Washington Department of Licensing will temporarily end its practice
of revoking licenses for failing to pay traffic fines or failing to
appear in court. (Greg Gilbert / The Seattle Times)
The Washington Department of Licensing will temporarily end its practice
of revoking licenses for failing to pay traffic fines or failing to...
(Greg Gilbert / The Seattle Times) More

Michelle Baruchman By Michelle Baruchman
Seattle Times Traffic Lab engagement editor

About 100,000 Washington drivers will soon have their licenses
reinstated under a court-ordered moratorium on the state’s practice of
revoking licenses to penalize drivers who fail to pay fines or fail to
appear in court.

The new policy will start Tuesday. The change comes after a Thurston
County Superior Court judge in May ruled it was unconstitutional for the
state to take away licenses for people who didn’t pay traffic fines
without determining their ability to afford it, because it violated
their right to due process.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington sued the state
Department of Licensing last year, arguing the state’s practice unfairly
hurts those who can’t afford to pay their tickets.

RELATED ACLU sues over Washington suspending licenses of people who
can’t pay traffic fines
By June 16, the state will reinstate licenses for all drivers who had
them suspended for failing to pay or failing to appear in court for a
noncriminal moving violation, such as running a red light or speeding.

About 200,000 people have their licenses suspended for failure to appear
in court, although that number includes citations for criminal offenses,
according to DOL. The ACLU of Washington estimates 100,000 people will
get their licenses restored under the policy changes.

The previous $75 fee to reinstate licenses will be waived.

“This makes a tremendous difference for many people in their lives,”
said ACLU Senior Staff Attorney John Midgley. “Some of our plaintiffs in
the case couldn’t take jobs because they couldn’t drive to get there.
Medical care, child care, school, work — things that people need cars to
get to. And in many areas of the state, especially rural areas, there
just aren’t a lot of public-transportation options.”

Following the order, the ACLU met with the state department in what
Midgley called a “respectful negotiation” to discuss the terms. “We will
abide by the order and will not appeal it,” said DOL spokesperson Nathan
Olson.

The new policy will be in place until Jan. 1, 2023, when Senate Bill
5226 takes effect. Under SB 5226, which passed in the state Legislature
this year, drivers who show up in court for all of their hearings will
not have their licenses suspended.

However, the bill will keep in place suspensions for drivers who fail to
appear in court.

Midgley says the ACLU remains concerned about this part of the bill
because failures to appear can occur because people have to work, can’t
get transportation to court or miss hearings for other unintentional
reasons.

“We’re very concerned that failure to appear debt-based suspensions are
still there. But we want to see how it’s implemented and, and work from
there.”

The court mandated that the DOL produce reports on the implementation of
SB 5226.

Previously in Washington, a driver who received a speeding ticket or
another kind of moving violation, could pay the fine or request a
hearing. If the individual either did not respond to the citation or
failed to appear in court, their driver’s license would be suspended.

People caught driving with a suspended license for noncriminal offenses
were charged with a misdemeanor crime that led to 90 days in jail or
another $1,000 fine — adding to existing debt and making it harder for
drivers to get their licenses back, Midgley said.

In its complaint, the ACLU argued the “severe and life-altering” impacts
of the law would often “trigger a cascading set of adverse consequences”
felt acutely by people with lower incomes. Wealthier individuals could
retain their licenses “even though they are guilty of the exact same
infractions.”

The Attorney General’s Office, which defended the state in the legal
case, referred a request for comment to the DOL.

In arguments against the bill, Kelsi Hamilton, who represented the
Washington Collectors Association, said Washington has high rates in the
nation for uninsured drivers and reports said “This is one of the few
incentives to get people to provide insurance.”

The changes will not apply to habitual offenders or people who committed
criminal offenses. And the state will continue to put a “hold” on a
vehicle registrations for infractions such as unpaid tolling or parking
tickets, unpaid fees and dishonored payments.

Michelle Baruchman: 206-652-6588 or mbaruchman@seattletimes.com; on
Twitter: @mlbaruchman.
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comments included:

so I can speed, shoplift, pee on your yard, live in a tent in Broadmoor,
shoot drugs, and Seattle loves me, I love liberalism.

So you can do drugs, not pay your rent, and laugh at the law.
Seattle is a deadbeats's paradise.