Pennsylvania Stops Suspending Licenses for Non-Driving Offenses
Gov. Wolf says law will help people obtain, keep employment and achieve stability.
As of this week, Pennsylvania will stop suspending drivers licenses for non-driving offenses, including drug offenses.
Gov. Tom Wolf signed the law in October, and it has now taken effect. Wolf says the law is an important step in "smart sentencing reform."
"We need to break down even more unnecessary and especially difficult roadblocks to success and stability," Wolf said in a statement. "Having a valid driver's license often is the key to finding and keeping a job, especially in parts of Pennsylvania where public transportation isn't readily accessible."
The Governor's Office says the new law will stop the state from automatically suspending 20,000 licenses annually for offenses that don't involve driving or highway safety. According to the Associated Press, the law also applies to carrying false identification and some offenses committed by children, including the purchase of tobacco products.