On October 29, 2019, the Illinois House passed Senate Bill 1786 known as the License to Work Act. The Act has now passed both houses of the Illinois legislature and awaits the Governor’s signature.
Over the last 30 years, laws have been passed authorizing the suspension of a person’s driver’s license as a means of collecting past due parking ticket fines, tollway violations and fees owed to the Illinois Commerce Commission. The License to Work Act removes the authority of the Secretary of State to suspend driving privileges for such reasons.
The legislation also provides for restoration of driving privileges for those persons who have previously had their license revoked, suspended or cancelled for non-payment of parking tickets or tollway violations or fees owed the Illinois Commerce Commission. Those suspended for unpaid parking tickets account for the largest portion of those impacted by the new legislation.