Sample Letter. THE PROBLEM - WHAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED. The suspension or revocation of drivers' licenses is a significant but often overlooked barrier. Program and requires a driver’s license to participate in the program. The completion of an approved course in driver education is required. Texas Transportation Code 521.223 APPLICATION FOR TEXAS HARDSHIP DRIVER LICENSE.

LIMITING SUSPENSION/REVOCATION OF DRIVERS’ LICENSES TO DRIVING-RELATED CONVICTIONS The Unfair Roadblock: While states have a legitimate interest in keeping individuals who are unfit to drive off the roads, many states have passed laws suspending or revoking the drivers’ licenses of people convicted of drug offenses, even when these offenses are unrelated to their ability to drive. Many states also provide no opportunity for these drivers to obtain restrictive licenses so that they can get to work, school or treatment. Taking away drivers’ licenses for an offense that is not related to the ability to drive and providing no opportunity to obtain restricted drivers’ licenses is harmful to the individuals, their family and communities by making it impossible for many of them to earn a living, go to school or receive health care, including drug or alcohol treatment. How to Remove the Roadblock: States should limit revocation or suspension of drivers’ licenses to driving-related drug offenses, such as driving under the influence of a controlled substance. States also should offer restricted licenses when appropriate so individuals whose licenses were suspended or revoked can work, go to school, and obtain health care. This tool kit provides materials advocates can use to seek reform of these laws, including. • • • • • • THE PROBLEM - WHAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED The suspension or revocation of drivers’ licenses is a significant but often overlooked barrier to economic advancement for people with criminal records who have paid their debt to society and want to become productive, tax-paying citizens.

Transformer free movies. While there is a clear societal interest in keeping those who are unfit to drive off the roads, broadly restricting licenses for convictions unrelated to an individual’s ability to drive safely is an unfair penalty that does society more harm than good. Prohibiting people convicted of a non-driving-related drug offense from driving makes it harder for them to look for and keep jobs, participate in addiction treatment or healthcare, and get education or job training. Especially in suburban and rural areas that lack extensive public transportation, a valid driver's license can be crucial to an individual’s ability to successfully reenter society. In 1992, Congress amended the Federal Highway Apportionment Act to withhold a portion of federal highway funds from any state that failed to adopt a license suspension/revocation law for people convicted of drug offenses. This law loosely defines “drug offense” as any criminal offense involving the possession, distribution, manufacture, cultivation, sale, transfer, or the attempt or conspiracy to possess, distribute, manufacture, cultivate, sell, or transfer any substance (prohibited by the Controlled Substances Act), or the operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of such a substance.

The federal law requires a suspension or revocation of at least six months. However, a governor can submit written certification to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation that she or he opposes the revocation/suspension and that the state legislature has adopted a resolution expressing opposition to this law. States also can limit the revocation or suspension to driving-relating drug offenses, such as driving under the influence of a controlled substance, or to other more limited categories of offenses, and still qualify for full federal funding. And States can offer restricted licenses that allow people with revoked or suspended licenses to drive for such purposes as employment, education, or obtaining alcohol or drug treatment or other health care. Limiting the suspension or revocation of licenses to offenses related to an individual’s ability to drive safely for a six-month period and issuing restricted licenses would achieve many important benefits: • Suspending or revoking drivers’ licenses for six months or longer after a drug conviction unrelated to driving is counterproductive, because it imposes an additional barrier that can prevent people who committed a drug offense and complied with their sentence from successfully reentering society.