Area courts take part in relicensing program

by ROSS COURTNEY
Yakima Herald-Republic

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YAKIMA, Wash. -- Sunnyside's municipal court is one of 10 in Yakima County that participate in Washington's relicensing program for drivers.

Established by the Legislature in 2003, the program allows people who have been charged with driving with a suspended license to get their driving privileges renewed by paying off tickets on a monthly payment program.

The state Department of Licensing automatically suspends licenses of drivers who fail to pay traffic tickets, sending their cases to collection agencies. If suspended drivers get caught by police, they are usually charged with driving with a suspended license, a criminal misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

The relicensing program allows the drivers to avoid the higher costs of a collection agency -- and get their license restored -- by promising to make monthly payments, usually a minimum of $25, to the municipal court that issued the traffic fines in the first place.

The Department of Licensing will lift the suspension as long as a driver keeps up with the monthly payments. Depending on the severity of the traffic violations, the relicensing program may require up to three consecutive months payments and a defensive driving class.

Meanwhile, some municipal courts in Yakima County will dismiss the driving-with-a-suspended-license charge. Some hold wayward drivers to a court fee; others, like Zillah and Wapato, don't.

The program has enrolled 8,500 drivers since it started, said Maria Leon, case manager for the program, which is run through Yakima County District Court. About 80 percent of them are still on the program.

One man used the program to get his license back while he paid off about $45,000 in unpaid tickets, Leon said.

Municipal courts appreciate the extra room on their dockets and jails. Some judges dismiss the criminal charges of driving with a suspended license once offenders enroll in the program. Some don't even require an initial appearance if defendants enroll right away.

It also helps courts with revenue, even if they drop the charge because drivers end up paying their tickets.

In Wapato, Court Administrator Nona Jacobs-Cook said her municipal court collects an extra $55,000 to $75,000 in traffic tickets annually because of the program. Of those caught driving with a suspended license, 98 percent of the cases end with the third-degree charge dropped.

"It's working very well for us if we can get them guided in the right direction," she said.

 

 



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