Oct 31, 2017 2 min read

State Rep. Rick Saccone, R-Elizabeth, introduced legislation Friday that would end driver’s license suspensions for people convicted of nonvehicle-related crimes.

Saccone’s House Bill 42, which is in the Judiciary Committee, would remove the driver’s license suspension for convictions on charges such as theft, purchase of tobacco or alcohol by a minor, and carrying a false identification card.

“While I agree with the fines and structure associated with these crimes, I don’t believe the added penalty of a license suspension is warranted, nor does it curb behavior,” Saccone said in a news release. “The individual convicted of any nondriving offense would be better served by doing community service.”

Saccone’s legislation received support from Steve Shelton of the Pittsburgh Trade Institute, retired state parole officer Joyce Douglass, Anna Hollis of Amachi Pittsburgh and Khalif Ali of The Pittsburgh Foundation.

“In many cases involving license suspensions for nondriving offenses, the inability for offenders to drive takes away their livelihood, the ability to provide for their families and their ability to be productive members of society,” Saccone said.

Saccone’s companion legislation, House Bill 163, which is in the Transportation Committee, would eliminate the driver’s license suspension for a person convicted of possession, sale or delivery of a controlled substance.

Saccone said while the state does have Occupational Limited Licenses, which only allow a person to drive to and from work, school or medical appointments, many people with drug convictions are not eligible for one.

“The problem is that few people are eligible to receive such a license,” he said. “For example, a person suffering from a suspension for a drug charge, like possession with intent to deliver a drug or possession of marijuana, is not eligible to receive an OLL.”