Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Court Procedure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee approves bill to require judges to consider defendants' ability to pay before seeking driver's-license suspension
Summary
House Bill 1926 would require courts to document a defendant's financial ability before requesting the Department of Finance and Administration to suspend a driver's license for unpaid fines and fees.
The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced House Bill 1926, which would require courts to inquire into a defendant's ability to pay and document that inquiry before requesting driver's-license suspension for unpaid fines and fees.
Representative Steve Unger, who worked in a halfway house and presented the bill, said removing driver's licenses for unpaid fines and fees is counterproductive to reducing recidivism. He described two existing code provisions in Chapter 16 — 16-13-702 and 16-13-708 — that call for courts to consider a defendant's financial ability and to hold a hearing before asking the Department of Finance and Administration to suspend a license. Unger said the bill adds a sample budget and documentation requirements to ensure judges follow the existing statutory steps.
A committee member asked whether there is a monetary cap on fines; Representative Unger said he did not know that figure. No witnesses registered opposition; the committee moved the bill forward on a voice vote.
Supporters said the bill aims to protect low-income defendants from losing driving privileges when the underlying cause is inability to pay and to ensure the statutory safeguard is applied consistently.
