When Cathy Williams was trying to help a resident regain solid footing after battling addiction, she learned that Indiana had made regaining a driver’s license easier for some suspended drivers.
A 2022 law change enables reinstatement of driving privileges while delaying payments, whether for citations or the reinstatement fees. Williams, a Wayne County Council member, had not heard about the change and expects that many who could benefit from it also do not know about it.
“I have been told that that will be helpful and a game-changer for some of those who have been in drug addiction, have now gotten themselves straightened out and have a job, but they don’t have transportation,” Williams said.
Transportation and finances are often two big barriers for residents getting back on their feet. They need a job to make money to pay off debts, but they can’t drive themselves to work.
“We need them to work, and they need to work and want to work, but we need to help them,” Williams said.
License suspensions that are due to failure to appear for a citation, failure to pay a citation, failure to provide proof of financial responsibility or not having insurance could be stayed by showing proof of future financial responsibility — essentially a promise by an insurance company to notify the state’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
The stay is a temporary pause that enables a person to drive as if their license is not suspended. It continues as long as insurance is kept until the person addresses the reason for the suspension.
The state charges reinstatement fees of $250 for the first suspension, $500 for the second suspension and $1,000 for each additional suspension. Those fees could be waived by filing a court petition. In a criminal situation, fees might be waived if the person is a nonviolent offender, has completed the criminal sentence, and is enrolled in job training or maintains consistent employment.
Information about relief from driver’s license suspension is available online from the Indiana Public Defender Council at in.gov/ipdc/about-us/back-on-the-road/.
“They’ve paid their dues to society and done everything, so what can we do to help them?” Williams said. “That’s the thing, we do need to help them and this definitely should help.”
A version of this article appeared in the April 9 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.