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Since the passage of the License to Work Act earlier this year, the Transit Table has been preparing for its July 1 effective date, when people who have had their driver’s licenses suspended for failure to pay fines or other non-moving violation fees can have their licenses reinstated. In the meantime, the Transit Table members have been working to help Chicagoans understand their rights under the new law and collaborating with the City of Chicago to improve debt enforcement across a variety of systems.

So far, the Illinois Secretary of State has rescinded a total of over 90,000 parking ticket suspensions for 75,000 drivers. We estimate that at least 55,000 of these people will end up having their driver’s licenses reinstated.

These driver’s are being notified by mail. Since reinstatement is automatic under the statute, a person still in possession of their unexpired driver’s license does not have to do anything further to validate their license. After July 1, those without possession of their physical driver’s license can apply for a duplicate, online or in person, once the Secretary of State reopens its driver’s license offices. People whose driver’s licenses have expired while suspended will need to apply for a new one in person; if the license has been expired for more than a year, the person will need to take a written and road exam to receive a new license.

In preparation for July 1, the Transit Table Coalition is in the process of drafting a report with recommendations that will help further revise the parking and compliance system in Chicago that contributes to cycles of debt and poverty in the City. The report, The Ticket Out: A Roadmap to Responsible Tickets, Fines, and Fees To Bolster Economic Recovery in Chicago, will be available in early June. Please check back periodically.