Suspended licenses in Miami-Dade result from failure to pay fines 63% of the time.
In Miami-Dade County alone, roughly 400,000 residents live under the specter of imminent arrest and lifelong penalties for minor driving offenses that many municipalities throughout the state have already decriminalized.
People Acting for Community Together (PACT), an interfaith network of 40 congregations from throughout the county, has been calling for an end to unnecessary arrests due to unpaid fees and fines by expanding the use of civil citations to D-6 offenses.
We are inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s words in “Why We Can’t Wait,” which resonate strongly with our plea for urgent action. Many municipalities across the state have decriminalized minor driving offenses, but Miami-Dade County continues to lag, subjecting its citizens to the severe consequences of unnecessary arrests.
Many other counties, including Broward, Desoto, Manatee and Sarasota, have successfully implemented pre-arrest diversion programs, relieving both drivers and law enforcement of the unnecessary burden of arrests. Despite public support and promises from State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, our county persists in penalizing poverty and criminalizing its citizens for minor driving infractions.
King’s assertion that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” rings true for the 1 in 3 licensed drivers in Miami-Dade County caught in an inescapable network of injustice. The power quadrilateral of the police, the courts, the clerk of courts and the state prosecutor must be compelled to cease the oppression of residents, alleviating the severe financial penalties and life-altering consequences disproportionately affecting low-income communities of color.
The misuse of driver’s license suspensions as a debt collection tool is a troubling trend. Suspended licenses in Miami-Dade result from failure to pay fines 63% of the time, while 31% stem from failure to appear in court. This punitive approach exacerbates a debt spiral, leading to further financial strain on affected individuals.
The Miami-Dade County Driver License Task Force’s 2022 report reveals the devastating impact of license suspensions, including a debt spiral for affected individuals. Many residents, to remain employed, resort to driving to work due to inadequate public transportation. This, unfortunately, results in more arrests, impoundment of vehicles and additional fees that make reinstating licenses an insurmountable challenge for many.
Considering these issues, PACT urges Fernandez Rundle and the members of the Miami-Dade County Driver License Task Force to consider the following call to action:
Monsignor Chanel Jeanty
(Archdiocese of Miami)
· The state attorney should take the lead in signing the proposal by March 15 to expand the civil citations program to include D-6 offenses as drafted by the task force.
· Implement comprehensive training programs for police to issue citations in lieu of arrests for minor driving offenses.
· Institute secondary screenings at all county jails to identify individuals eligible for pre-arrest diversion programs.
Jonathan Sepsenwol
(Temple Beth Shalom)
· Retroactively waive fines from the date of the task force report to alleviate the burden on affected individuals.
· Fund and implement a campaign to reinstate driver’s licenses for eligible drivers, promoting a fair and just system.
We believe that by taking immediate action on these recommendations, we can pave the way for a more equitable and just Miami-Dade County.
Monsignor Chanel Jeanty is the pastor of St. James Catholic Church in North Miami and PACT board of trustees vice chair. Jonathan Sepsenwol is Temple Beth Shalom’s vice president and also serves on the PACT board of directors.
