Recap: How License Suspensions Disrupt Daily Life
Part 1 of Our Webinar Series: Life on Hold
On February 19th, the Wilson Center for Science and Justice hosted the first installment of the three-part Life on Hold series. The discussion brought together researchers and individuals directly impacted by North Carolina’s driver’s license suspension policies to explore how they affect employment, economic mobility, and reentry. The ultimate goal, was to understand the human impact of the suspensions for the approximately one million people in North Carolina who are currently affected.
We were joined by two panelists and a moderator:
- 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.
- Lauren Robbins, served as our moderator. She is a Litigation Paralegal with the ACLU of North Carolina and has also been impacted by driver's license suspension.
Licenses are suspended for lack of court appearance or lack of payment, not unsafe driving, itself
As the webinar opened, Monet Shum highlighted that most license suspensions in North Carolina are not the result of unsafe driving behavior. In these cases, it is not the moving violation (such as speeding or not having an updated registration), itself, that triggers the license suspension. Instead, these suspensions are a result of a Failure to Appear (FTA) in court or Failure to Comply (FTC) with court sanctions by paying the fines and fees associated with a ticket. Why don't people appear or comply with court requirements? They often cannot afford to pay the ticket and can often face problems with transportation to get to court, work conflicts, or childcare conflicts.
The challenges of navigating life without a license
As part of her work with the Wilson Center, Monet conducted a case study in two cities in North Carolina – Lumberton and Greensboro – to really understand how hard it is to live without a driver’s license. She chose a task to hypothetically accomplish for the day, such as going to a doctor’s appointment or picking up their child from daycare, and discovered how difficult it would be to accomplish without being able to drive. "The examples that I have illustrate the difficulty of navigating life...In reality, it may be more difficult for a person to commute, as they may not live in an area that is walkable at all, or they have relied on a car to commute and live outside cities, and also the range of public transportation,” said Monet.
Lack of licenses are also barriers to reentry
Greg Singleton spoke about the role license suspensions play in reentry after incarceration, describing the loss of a driver’s license as one of the most significant barriers. Without a license, getting to and from your place of employment, attending necessary appointments, and meeting everyday responsibilities becomes far more difficult. In many cases, individuals feel forced to choose between obeying the law and meeting basic needs. “In a desperate situation, someone might choose to drive anyway,” Greg explained. He also highlighted the importance of community resources, including local reentry councils and legal aid organizations, which help individuals navigate the reinstatement process and find employment opportunities.
A seeming foregone conclusion discourages court appearance
The webinar also featured a video of Diana Powell, who shared her personal experience of living without a valid driver’s license for ten years. Her suspension stemmed from low-level traffic infractions and an inability to pay fines. “You already know what’s going to happen when you go to court and you don’t have the money,” Powell said. It’s important to note that the cost of having your license reinstated is not just the judicial fines; you still have to complete the reinstatement process at the DMV, which requires paying more fines. Reflecting on her experience, Powell emphasized, “I was criminalized for being poor.”
License suspensions affect small businesses
Although he was unable to attend the event, Tony Cates was able to provide a business perspective on driver’s license suspensions. Because many workers cannot afford insurance or have suspended licenses, employers must adjust logistics in costly and inefficient ways. “I often need multiple vehicles loaded for an event. Most of the people I hire don’t have valid licenses, so instead of sending someone with a carload of equipment, I’m taking two or three trips. That really slows things down.” he explained.
Finally, panelists touched on the economic implications of widespread license suspensions. Access to a valid driver’s license is often essential for participating in the workforce, especially in regions where public transportation is limited. Treating FTAs and FTCs as an act of willful defiance, speakers argued, overlooks the systemic barriers that prevent people from paying court fines and undermines broader economic development goals.
Exploring the issue further
This webinar is part of a series. Part 2: Why People Don’t Appear—and What Happens When They Don’t explores “failure to appear,” a leading driver of license suspensions. Part 3: From Punishment to Prevention: What Other States Are Doing Differently will look at how states and localities are promoting court appearance and compliance aside from license suspension. Some of these alternatives include reminder systems, flexible scheduling, and fee reductions, which all improve outcomes for those involved, while still supporting public safety. Learn more about the series.
Note: This webinar is for educational purposes only, and the views expressed by panelists do not represent the institutional position of Duke University.