To: Members of the 135th Ohio General Assembly  

Re: End Driver’s License Suspensions for Court Debt Before Session Close

From: The Buckeye Institute, Americans for Prosperity, Americans for Tax Reform, Ohioans for Tax Reform

The undersigned organizations urge you to pass legislation before the close of the session that will end the practice of suspending driver’s licenses for court debt. 

Earlier this year, the Senate overwhelmingly passed Senate Bill 37, legislation we strongly supported. As passed by the Senate, Senate Bill 37 follows a proven model enacted by more than half of the states. This bill would boost Ohio’s economy and workforce by fixing the counterproductive practice of suspending driver’s licenses as a punishment for owing court debt. 

Following the Senate’s passage, the House committee that took up the bill removed the provision that ended the practice of suspending driver’s licenses for court debt. We understand that this change was likely intended to advance the bill and address some concerns from opponents. However, those concerns can be mitigated in less restrictive ways while advancing Ohio’s economy. 

Courts have tools other than license suspensions available to elicit payment of debts. Unlike license suspensions, these tools do not make it nearly impossible for the debtor to consistently get to work and earn the money necessary to pay the debt. States that have enacted similar measures have not seen their courts face revenue problems. Minnesota and Arizona, for example, have not faced such a problem after enacting their bills. 

The Senate’s version of the bill was adjusted as part of a diligent process to accommodate issues from across the state and ideological spectrum. While we are glad that the House committee retained some of the as-passed by Senate version of the bill, such as the option to enter into a payment plan, we nonetheless urge you to support the Senate’s language.

It is common sense that making it more difficult for people to get to work and earn a living makes it more difficult for them to pay off a court debt. Yet, when courts use license suspensions to try to force payment of court debt, they create this counterproductive situation. 

The workforce shortages states are experiencing are highlighting yet another painful consequence of license suspension. Being able to work effectively and consistently is not just good for the person missing their license; it is good for industry, small businesses, and consumers.

One major and obvious example is trucking, as the U.S. is short more than 80,000 truck drivers. Further, “In January there were 5.1 million more positions available than people to fill them, according to researchers at the St. Louis Fed,” Bloomberg reports.

This workforce problem is being felt in the Buckeye State, where there are “only 79 people available to fill every 100 open jobs,” according to the Chamber of Commerce. 

When it comes to the criminal justice system, public safety must come first, and people who have committed infractions that show they are a danger on the road should absolutely have their driver’s license taken away. But for those who the system is pushing to pay their debt, it is best for them and the community to have them at their job, contributing to society, and paying what they owe.

The policies in the Senate’s version of SB 37 represent the best way to implement this needed reform. We urge you to approve this language either through SB 37 or by amending it into another bill. Thank you. 

Sincerely,

Grover G. Norquist

President 

Americans for Tax Reform

Robert Alt

President and Chief Executive Officer 

The Buckeye Institute

Hannah Kubbins

Legislative Director

Americans for Prosperity Ohio 

Douglas Kellogg

Director 

Ohioans for Tax Reform