DMV Removes Driving Suspensions for Failure to Pay Fines

OFF THE WIRE
Sacramento - The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) removed failure to pay notations from all driver records and notified customers who had qualifying suspensions removed.

Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. Signed Assembly Bill 103 (AB 103) on June 27, 2017, which eliminated court notifications to the DMV of failure to pay fines, eliminating the requirement for the DMV to suspend or withhold driver licenses for that reason. Since then, the DMV has worked to restore driving privileges to all California drivers who had their driver license suspended solely for failure to pay fines before AB 103 took effect. The DMV also removed failure to pay notices from records at the request of drivers.

The DMV recently notified affected customers that their failure to pay suspension has been removed from their record. Some customers receiving such a notification might still have a suspended license for other reasons, and this action will not resolve those suspensions. For example, a DUI-related suspension will not be affected by this change. To find out if they have other suspensions or holds, customers can request a copy of their driver record from the DMV online, by mail or at a DMV field office.

Customers who had their driving privilege suspended solely for a failure to pay fines and have a valid driver license can legally drive without any further steps. Customers with an expired license or customers who no longer have a license in their possession must visit a DMV field office to apply for a renewal or a duplicate, and pay the corresponding fee. Vision and/or knowledge tests might be required.

For more information on failure to pay notifications, including FAQs, visit www.dmv.ca.gov.