300,000 Michigan Drivers' Debt Forgiven

Michigan to grant amnesty to 300,000 drivers whose licenses were taken from them because they were too poor to pay the "Driver Responsibility Fee."

1 minute read

October 5, 2017, 5:00 AM PDT

By Casey Brazeal @northandclark

Steve Lagreca / Shutterstock

"Last Thursday, Democrats and Republicans in the Michigan statehouse unveiled a reform package that could finally banish the Driver Responsibility Fee, a fee attached to traffic tickets that has claimed the licenses of nearly 350,000 drivers for nonpayment," Henry Garbar reports for Slate.

Michigan's fee represents a very regressive tax as it punishes those unable to pay tickets. To make matters worse, Garbar reports that public transit in Michigan puts the state among the worst in the country.

Some of these licenses were suspended for reasons that aren't even tied to driving. "Michigan also issues mandatory, indefinite license suspensions for anyone with unpaid court debt, with no consideration for the debtors ability to pay," Garbar writes.

FULL STORY: Michigan Leaders Move to Give Amnesty to 300,000 Drivers Who Lost Their Licenses Because They Were Broke

Monday, October 2, 2017 in Slate

Transportation Michigan Drivers License Poverty Suspended License Punishing the Poor Regressive Taxes View More

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