The Judiciary Committee voted favorably on a bill that would prevent the suspension of drivers licenses for failure to pay fines or show up for court appearances. The bill would also require the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to reinstate the license of any driver whose license was suspended solely because of unpaid fines or missed court appearances.

The bill was originally sponsored by Rep. Joshua Hall (D-Hartford), Rep. Geraldo Reyes (D-Waterbury), Rep. Fred Gee (D-Bridgeport), and Rep. Patricia Billie Miller (D-Newington).

While proponents of the bill believe it will help reduce inequality in punishment for low-income drivers, who may not have the time or ability to take off work for court, or the means to pay fines, opponents believe it will defang the state in its ability to enforce traffic violations at a time of high fatalities on Connecticut’s roadways.

“To suspend someone’s license, which is extrajudicial, seems out of line for what we do with other court appearances,” said Rep. Steven Stafstrom (D-Bridgeport), Committee Co-Chair. Stafstrom said the bill would also prevent Connecticut drivers who get speeding tickets out of state from getting their licenses suspended for not paying them.

Benedict Daigle, the Assistant State’s Public Defender, submitted written testimony in support of the bill, noting the steps it would take to reduce undue punishment on the state’s poor.

“With regard to an individual’s failure to appear in court, some would have us believe that any reason other than hospitalization, incarceration, death, or lack of notice represents the willful missing of a court date,” reads Daigle’s testimony. “It ought to go without saying that life is not so simple – especially for individuals who do not have paid time off, ready child care, and other assets at their disposal.”

Several Republican committee members stood in opposition to the bill, noting the high number of traffic deaths in recent years.

“We already have a problem over the last two years with increased motor vehicle deaths on our highways,” said Rep. Craig Fishbein (R-Middlefield). “I don’t think this is the right way to go.”

Connecticut faced a record high year of roadway fatalities in 2022, with 367 motor vehicle related fatalities. The number slightly reduced in 2023, to 322. As of 2024, Connecticut has recorded 87 motor vehicle related deaths, which Rep. Greg Howard (R-Ledyard) noted puts the state on track to exceed 2022’s numbers.

“As of a couple of days ago in 2024 we have experienced 87 fatalities on our highways,” said Howard. “We’re at this moment, on track to surpass 2022, and have the highest rate of fatalities in Connecticut in over 40 years. That is a serious, serious concern.” 

Rep. Howard stated that since speeding tickets are considered by the state as infractions, there are no warrants issued for arrest if the person ticketed does not appear in court.

“If I get a speeding ticket today and crumble it up and throw it in the garbage and do nothing, there’s no warrant for my arrest,” said Rep. Howard  “I simply get my driver’s license suspended and that’s it.”

Howard noted that drivers who do this could only be held accountable if they’re pulled over and charged for driving with a suspended license, a charge in which a warrant for arrest can be issued if the ticketed driver doesn’t show up to court. Howard highlighted written testimony provided by Patrick Griffin, Chief State’s Attorney, which noted concern that the state would be unable to enforce roadway infractions upon passage of the bill.

“One unintended consequence of the proposed bill will be that the state is left without a mechanism short of seeking rearrest to resolve pending motor vehicle cases,” read Griffin’s testimony. “The addition of a misdemeanor charge, not to mention the inconvenience and embarrassment of an arrest and another court date, is an overly harsh and ill-suited penalty in many cases. Moreover, with respect to infractions, eliminating the related suspension results in no consequences whatsoever for the traffic violator and a group of cases remaining open and effectively unresolvable on our court dockets.”

Howard stressed that speeding is “the leading cause” of Connecticut’s high level of fatalities, and said that anybody who takes daily drives to Hartford could tell you the average speed on the highway is “excessive.” 

“Now we’re going to tell people if you have a speeding ticket, which isn’t even likely right now because of the state of law enforcement in our state anyway, if you have a speeding ticket throw it in the garbage!,” said Howard. “Nothing’s going to happen to you! That is totally backwards to what we should be doing in this state.”

Representatives Tom O’Dea (R-New Canaan)  Sen. John Kissel (R-Enfield) also spoke out against the bill. O’Dea called it “horrible policy,” Kissel associated it with a “disrespect for the rule of law,” and said he “doesn’t think it’s the right way to go.”

Rep. Robyn Porter (D-Hamden) pushed back on the notion that people who are unable to make court appearances do so intentionally.

“There are several reasons why people don’t show up to court, but there are also people who show up to court and get a continuance over and over and we’re not taking into consideration their work schedules, their personal life schedules and what they have got going on,” said Porter. I don’t think it’s always because they’re throwing their ticket in the trash”

Stafstrom said the bill would simply put punishment for speeding tickets in compliance with other Committee of Transportation bills passed in the last couple of years that have removed the penalty of suspension for failure to pay fines. Stafstrom said that “folks move around” and that people may not get notices of tickets. 

Stafstrom pushed back against the notion that the state would be left without enforcement measures if the bill is passed. He explained that drivers could still be charged with failure to appear tickets for missing court dates, and also have their licenses denied renewal until payment of unpaid fines. 

“That is the proper enforcement mechanism,” said Stafstrom. “I don’t think anybody is saying someone should be able to tear up a ticket and throw it in the garbage. Let’s not inflame this, let’s look at the policy.”

Stafstrom stated that under the current policy, drivers who have received tickets and are unaware are liable to have their license suspended and not be made aware of this suspension, leading to steeper penalty upon being caught for driving with a suspended license. 

“You get pulled over for unrelated violations, and it’s then determined you have a suspended drivers license that you didn’t know was suspended,” said Stafstrom. “Now all of a sudden you are being hauled into court for driving around with a suspended license.”

Stafstrom said it is those scenarios that the bill is attempting to prevent.

Ultimately, the Committee voted favorably in a 23-12 vote. The bill has been reported out of the Legislative Commissioner’s Office, and will be voted on in the House floor.

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