First-time marijuana offense will no longer mean losing driver’s license in Virginia, if gov signs off
RICHMOND, Va. Virginians may be less likely to lose their drivers licenses for unpaid fines and minor drug offenses under legislation headed to the governor.
The General Assembly passed legislation Friday that would allow those convicted of a first-time marijuana offense to avoid an automatic drivers license suspension of six months.
The legislature also passed a bill intended to make it easier for people with unpaid court debts to enter into a deferred or installment payment plan to avoid having their licenses suspended. The bill also sets a $100 down payment limit for payment plans. The legislation is similar to new rules enacted by the Virginia Supreme Court.
Both bills passed with broad bipartisan support and now head to Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who advocated earlier this year for making drivers license suspension laws less strict.
Advocates have long pushed for reforms on drivers license suspensions, saying Virginias current rules disproportionately hurt the poor. The Legal Aid Justice Center is currently suing the state, saying its automatic suspension policy for unpaid debts is unconstitutional.
The center said more than 900,000 Virginians about one in six of the states drivers had their licenses suspended because of unpaid court costs or fines in 2015.
Republican Del. Manoli Loupassi said the payment plan set out in the legislation was intended to reduce the number of people driving with suspended licenses.
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