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Motor Vehicle Registration and Operator’s Permit Issuance Enhancement Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2002

Councilmember Kevin P. Chavous

A PROPOSED RESOLUTION IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

To declare the sense of the Council of the District of Columbia that there exists a current emergency concerning the unfair denial of operator license renewal and vehicle registration due to outdated fines, fees, and taxes that have not been paid. The prevention of District of Columbia residents from renewing operator licenses and vehicle registration prevents said residents from legally utilizing private transportation to their jobs. Many citizens work beyond the reach of public transit, and would have to drive to work illegally or maintain absence from their places of employment until fines, fees, and taxes can be paid.

RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that this resolution may be cited as the "Motor Vehicle Registration and Operator's Permit Issuance Enhancement Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2002".

Sec. 2. For the purposes of this resolution, the term "outdated" is defined as "imposed prior to January 1, 1998".

Sec. 3. Many residents are currently being denied the benefit of an operator's license and or vehicle registration for unpaid fines, fees, or taxes imposed as far back as ten years prior to the date of attempted operator license renewal or vehicle registration. Ten years is too long to expect a resident to maintain personal records of payments made to the District of Columbia, or for mental recollection of fines, fees, or taxes ever being imposed.

Sec. 4. The current practice of the Department of Motor Vehicles of the District of Columbia, that denies residents the privilege of renewing operator licenses and vehicle registration because of unpaid outdated fines, fees, and taxes, disproportionately affects low-income residents who may not be able to afford a total lump sum of fines, taxes, and fees which have accumulated over several years.

Sec. 5. This resolution shall take effect immediately.