County accepts $500,000 state grant to help suspended drivers regain licenses through court program
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Summary
A state grant of $500,000 will fund an Operation Drive program administered through district courts to help suspended drivers regain legal status via case management, rides and attorney assistance; staff said there is no county match and the program aims to reduce misdemeanor outcomes tied to driving infractions.
Oakland County accepted a $500,000 grant from the state court administrative office to expand an Operation Drive program designed to help people with driving-related court issues regain legal driving status.
Alex Black, a board administrator with the 52-1 District Court, told the committee the program targets people suspended for driving-related issues (including license suspensions and unpaid fines) and will provide monthly judge check-ins via Zoom, transportation support (rides or transit), attorney assistance to negotiate fines and a part-time staffer to maintain a database of participants and outcomes. Black said the grant is intended to return money to program participants to help them comply with requirements and avoid misdemeanor outcomes; the program will enroll people who could regain driving privileges within an 11-month window.
Black said the effort has precedent in other district courts and that the $500,000 award requires no county match. Commissioners asked about caseloads and if the grant will support multiple districts; Black said the program will work across districts and that courts that had piloted the program showed promising success rates.
The committee voted to accept the grant; staff said they would return data to the committee six months after implementation to report outcomes and metrics.
