Inappropriate Actions By State Legislatures Using Drivers Licenses as Judicial Tools

The current Pennsylvania law allows for the suspension of a drivers license for actions unrelated to the operation of a motor vehicle. For instance, if you are delinquent in Court Ordered child support payments, the Court can order the suspension of your drivers license. This suspension of the drivers license not only punishes the individual for becoming delinquent in child support but then it severely handicapped the individuals attempt to correct the situation because it is more difficult to earn a living when one is unable to drive. Further, the Pennsylvania law allows for the suspension of a drivers license for violation of the underage drinking laws. Young adults who need to commute to college or places of employment are being handicapped in the same manner with the suspension of their drivers license. This is even if they were not operating a motor vehicle or traveling in a motor vehicle at the time of the alleged underage drinking violation. This punishment should be considered a violation of the young adults right to improve themselves either by furthering their education or earning a living. It would be one thing if the underage drinking violation involved the operation of a motor vehicle. However, a young adult, that in no way intends to operate a motor vehicle, sitting in a private home, at a party or other celebration, caught consuming alcohol, should not receive similar punishment to an individual operating a motor vehicle while alcohol impaired. Pennsylvania, and many other states, consider the operation of a motor vehicle a privilege that can be taken away as a punishment despite the fact that a drivers license was never intended to be considered a judicial tool. This is a discriminatory unequal punishment. Individuals that live in urban areas where public transportation is readily available and may not own a drivers license are punished less severely than an individual living in a rural area where no means of public transportation is available at all and the means of private transportation is an absolute necessity. For this reason alone, the use of the suspension of drivers license for violations unrelated to the operation of a motor vehicle, cannot be considered equal punishment. This petition is to demand that it become unlawful to suspend a persons drivers license for non-driving violations and that current laws supporting these suspensions be repealed and revised to include already approved educational courses and community service for any violators of the underage drinking laws. It is my belief that these laws are already in effect for individuals 21 and older. Stop state governments from over-extending their rights by disregarding our rights.