JALSA Submits Testimony in Support of Ending Debt-Based Driving Restrictions
July 8, 2025
Dear Chairs Crighton and Arciero:
The Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action (JALSA) is a membership-based non-profit organization based in Boston, with thousands of members and supporters statewide. Guided by Jewish teachings and values, we are devoted to the defense of civil rights, the preservation of constitutional liberties, and the passionate pursuit of social, economic, racial, and environmental justice for all people.
JALSA offers its testimony in strong support of An Act to Increase Opportunity by Ending Debt-Based Driving Restrictions (H.3662/S.2368). This legislation addresses critical barriers to driver’s license access and mobility for low-income residents impacted by debt-based suspensions.
Current Massachusetts law forces the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) to suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew driver’s licenses for unpaid traffic, toll, and other fines and fees. This is effectively the driving equivalent of a debtor’s prison. Further, current state law also criminalizes driving on a suspended license, compounding the barrier.
The resulting tens of thousands of driver’s license suspensions each year force impossible choices upon people who drive to work: risk further penalties and even arrest in order to commute to work or lose their jobs. Because these commuters obviously rely on their jobs for the income that is necessary to resolve these debts, this current, antiquated policy jeopardizing commuters’ employment only serves to perpetuate cycles of poverty and involvement with the justice system.
This legislation is also deeply aligned with our Jewish values as the Torah calls out harm of this nature directed at low-income and economically vulnerable workers. Deuteronomy 24:14 commands us: “You shall not oppress a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your countrymen or a foreigner residing within your towns.”
In addition to being a matter of economic justice, this important legislation is also a matter of racial justice, given that Black drivers are 20% more likely to be pulled over than white drivers and are disproportionately ticketed, arrested, charged, and convicted for traffic violations and driving with suspended licenses. Further, criminalizing non-payment of fines and fees has never been shown to improve public safety.
Ending driver’s license suspensions for unpaid fines and fees will keep workers in their jobs and out of the justice system, improve economic and racial justice in the Commonwealth, and strengthen our economy.
JALSA strongly urges the members of the Joint Committee on Transportation to report H.3662/S.2368, An Act to Increase Opportunity by Ending Debt-Based Driving Restrictions, favorably out of committee as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Cindy Rowe
President & CEO
Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action