Life on Hold: The Real Impact of Driver’s License Suspensions

Life on Hold is a three-part webinar series examining how driver’s license suspensions in North Carolina reverberate far beyond the roadway. In our state, if someone fails to pay a fine for a traffic infraction or does not show up for their court date, their license is suspended. License suspensions can set off a cascade of consequences that touch nearly every aspect of daily life, including work, family, housing, and health care, and often further push people into more involvement with the legal system.

This webinar series looks at the real impacts of suspensions by talking to people who have been through the experience, taking a closer look at why people don't show up to court, and examining alternate strategies other states have used to promote court appearance.

Part 1: Voices from the Ground: How License Suspensions Disrupt Daily Life

Thursday, February 19th, 12pm. Register here.

This opening session features people directly impacted by driver’s license suspensions. Panelists will share how losing the ability to drive affected employment, family responsibilities, health care access, and day-to-day survival, revealing the human costs that rarely show up in statutes or court records.

Panelists:

• Rick Seay is a devoted father and active member of his church and community. After spending much of his earlier life incarcerated and on probation, he has transformed into a responsible and productive citizen committed to doing better for his family. Of all his past mistakes, he identifies the loss of his driver’s license—and the time it cost him with his children—as his greatest regret. For him, the impact of losing his license went far beyond transportation; it limited his ability to work, provide, and be fully present as a father. That experience profoundly shaped his commitment to personal growth, responsibility, and rebuilding his life.
• Tony Cates, founder and owner of Cates Cookout, is a serial entrepreneur who has witnessed first-hand the impact of a suspended driver’s license, and how it harms working people and their families. He will also provide insight about the impact that license suspension has had on his business.
• Greg Singleton is the Dean of Academic Programs at Opportunities Industrialization Center of Rocky Mount, NC. He has also served as the Director of Community Workforce Readiness and Director of Reentry Operations at Craven Community College as well as Dean of Programs, Workforce and Continuing Education at Central Carolina Community College.
• Monet Shum is a student at Duke University and Research Assistant with the Wilson Center for Science and Justice at Duke Law, where she will speak about the Wilson Center's research into the scope and impact of driver's license suspension.
• Moderated by Lauren Robbins, Litigation Paralegal with the ACLU of North Carolina, who was also impacted by driver's license suspension.

Part 2: Why People Don’t Appear—and What Happens When They Don’t

Thursday, March 19th, 12pm. Register here.

This webinar takes a deep dive into “failure to appear,” a leading driver of license suspensions. Speakers will explore why people miss court dates—from logistical barriers and lack of notice to fear and confusion—and how the consequences of nonappearance often compound financial instability and system involvement rather than promote compliance.

Panelists:

• Ashley Shelton is a parent in long-term recovery and a full-time college student studying psychology and addiction studies. When her driver’s license was suspended over a ticket she could not afford to resolve, it created a devastating cycle—preventing her from getting to court and forcing her daughter to leave her private school because she could no longer legally drive her.
• Graham McNallie is a father from Nash County. After receiving a traffic ticket during a financially difficult period following a separation, his driver’s license was suspended, which limited his employment opportunities and made it harder to support his family.
• Mitch Lucas is the Restoration Legal Counsel for the Orange County Criminal Justice Resource Department. His work focuses on Driver's License Restorations and Expunctions for residents of Orange County. He has served in this role for the last 3 and a half years.
• Eric Jackson is the President of DeepWeave WNC Inc. Eric became involved in local justice reform efforts in 2020 when he brought together stakeholders for a Bloomberg Center for Government Excellence workshop on drivers license restoration & renewal. He then served in 2020-2025 on the Buncombe County Safety & Justice Challenge community engagement workgroup and led the development of the Buncombe County Court Reminders System, which he continues to maintain.
• Moderated by Lindsay Bass-Patel, Policy Analyst with the Wilson Center for Science and Justice at Duke Law

Part 3: From Punishment to Prevention: What Other States Are Doing Differently

Thursday, April 23rd, 12pm. Register here.

The final session will examine strategies states and localities are using to encourage court appearance and compliance without resorting to license suspension. Panelists will discuss policy reforms and practical alternatives—such as reminder systems, flexible scheduling, and fee reductions—that improve outcomes for individuals while supporting public safety and court efficiency.

Co-sponsored by the NC Alliance for Safe Transportation, Independent Insurers of NC, Operation Gateway, Inc., Advocate Collaborate Educate (ACE), Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) of Rocky Mount, NC Justice Center, Forward Justice, the Fines and Fees and Justice Center, and the Duke Center for Community-Engaged Scholarship.