Decriminalize Driving with a Suspended License

While not paying a ticket is highly irresponsible it certainly isn't criminal. We are wasting space in our city and county jails housing traffic offenders.It also provides a tool used for discrimination by officers who have ulterior agendas and has been for decades. This is a civil matter, not criminal. People driving on a suspended license should not be sent to the same place as people who steal, kill,rape, sell drugs, and carry guns. There are other options available to collect debt. Incarceration is not the answer, furthermore incarceration doesn't even clear the debt. Once released, violators still owe the city. This perpetuates a vicious, unproductive cycle. More affordable payment programs should be in place to help offenders correct the issue. Instead, GC services , the DMV and Court Divisions make it virtually impossible for a person with low income to recover from even a small infraction, which leads to a suspended license , a towed vehicle and imprisonment. Even the funds obtained from the sale of the towed vehicle are not applied to the debt owed.This is unacceptable and has been going on too long. Lets change it