PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — More than 100,000 individuals in Pinellas County, and two million individuals throughout Florida, have suspended driver’s licenses in accordance to state information. Religious group leaders in Pinellas County are on a mission to scale back the variety of individuals arrested for driving on a suspended license.
On Thursday, members of FAST (Faith and Action for Strength Together) gathered to beg the Pinellas County Sheriff for change.
Pastor Robert Ward of Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church says it’s simpler than most individuals assume to find yourself with a suspended license. “When many of us hear someone’s license has been suspended or revoked we assume and often think to ourselves those folks must have done something dangerous like being convicted of a DUI or reckless driving, but that’s often not the case,” he defined.
Fines & Fees Justice Center
According to the Fines & Fees Justice Center, of those that have suspended licenses in Pinellas County, 75% are due to unpaid fines and costs.
“These kinds of punishments should be reserved for people who are actually putting the public in danger,” added Reverand Tom Anastasia of the Diocese of St. Petersburg.
Reverend Robert Teagle discovered himself in the same scenario. “I was pulled over by a police officer and I asked them why because I knew I wasn’t speeding and the officer told me I was driving on a suspended license which I was unaware of,” he defined.
WFTS
Teagle says he had switched insurance coverage firms and his former firm notified the state that he had dropped his coverage. Luckily, the officer known as the brand new insurance coverage firm to examine if he had an lively coverage, which he did.
“If he wouldn’t have checked, and I got arrested it would have been really devastating because #1 I’m arrested for something I was unaware of and #2 because I’ve never been arrested before,” Teagle elaborated.
Religious leaders insist too many individuals are getting arrested for suspended licenses, regardless of not committing any harmful visitors infractions. They would love Pinellas County to add a diversion program for these instances, which might preserve the individual out of jail and preserve it off an individual’s document.
WFTS
ABC Action News reached out to Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri and he tells us he’s met with FAST members and that “what they are asking for is complicated, and we have not been able to reach an agreement on how to implement what they are asking for,” he added in an announcement.
Members of FAST plan to have a gathering on September 21 at 2 p.m. They’ve invited a number of legislation enforcement leaders and hope collectively they will give you some options.
“Once you’re arrested, there’s a cascade of problems. You often must go to court, which means time off work. It’s hard to find a job when you have an arrest record, and you could even be prevented from other things like finding housing or volunteering at your child’s youth group. On top of that, the fees and fines just add up,” said Rev. Jean Cooley of Good Samaritan Presbyterian/UUC in Pinellas Park.
“For your first-time offense, you could be fined up to $1000. That’s on top of the fees and fines you must pay to get your license re-instated, and whatever the original problem was that got your license suspended to begin with. In a time when the cost of rent, food and gas is all higher than ever—people just don’t have the money to pay these endless fees and fines.”