Oregon governor allows more state residents to reinstate driver’s licenses

(The Center Square) – Oregon Governor Tina Kotek issued new remission orders forgiving unpaid traffic fines and fees to include people who were left off the previous 2022 remissions orders.

The governor’s orders released this week add 10,000 more Oregonians to the list of eligible people. Their fines have been forgiven, and they can restore their license.

“Debt-based driver’s license suspensions disproportionately impact rural and low-income Oregonians,” Kotek said. “For families who are already struggling to make ends meet, these orders seek to remove one more barrier to financial stability.”

Before 2020, the state could suspend driver’s licenses if someone was unable to pay the fine they received because of a minor traffic violation.

The new law barred most license suspensions for nonpayment of traffic fines going forward. However, those with previous debt-based license suspensions on their record could not reinstate their driver’s licenses.

Yet, in December 2022, then-Governor Kate Brown remitted the fines and fees associated with old traffic violations imposed on residents who were unable to pay their fines or who never appeared in court to remedy their fines. It resulted in about 7,000 more people being eligible for licenses.

However, in the past year, Oregon’s Driver and Motor Vehicle Services Division (DMV) determined that not everyone who met the criteria in the original 2022 remission orders was included in the released lists.

“Governor Kotek’s orders do not alter the original criteria from the 2022 remission orders,” a release said. “Her orders instead ensure that those who met the original criteria are identified. The remission orders forgive fines and fees related only to traffic violations. The orders do not forgive fines and fees related to traffic crimes, such as misdemeanors and felonies, or public safety-related sanctions, like other criminal convictions. Much of the debt forgiven by the Governor’s remission orders has remained unpaid for three or more years and, as a result, is considered uncollectible.”