Driver's License Restoration

 

One major barrier to economic opportunity in New Jersey is public policy related to driver's license suspension. Of the approximately 900,000 driver's license suspensions issued each year, more than half are for financial reasons--the failure to pay fines and fees. These problems occur disproportionately among low income urban residents. With most of job growth occurring in suburban areas poorly served by public transportation, lack of a license puts good jobs out of reach for those who need them the most.

The Institute works to inform policymakers, advocates, employers and New Jersey residents about the impact of license suspension and the need for policy reform to reduce this costly barrier to employment. The Institute has also provided practical tools to help individuals overcome that barrier.

If you are interested in license restoration program development, trainings or events, contact us at info@njisj.org.

 

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• Fill Out Our License Help Information Form:

 

If you are interested in receiving information on driver's license resources, please fill out our form by clicking here.

 

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• Additional Resources to Restore your License:

If you or someone you know has a suspended license, the following resources can help.

Getting Back on the Road Manual: This step-by-step manual (reissued November 2008) was developed for use by community advocates and others to help individuals regain their driving privileges in the State of New Jersey.

Manual Overview: A shorter, 3-page overview of the license restoration process.

 

Request an MVC print out: You can request a print out of your restoration requirements to MVC with this request form, or go to a MVC facility or regional service center that offers "Walk-In Service" for your entire abstract (more than 5 years old). For a list of facilities near you, go to www.state.nj.us/mvc/Location/index.htm

 

Worksheet to help you restore your license : Find out the reasons for driver's license suspension, by calling the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission at 609-292-7500 and use this worksheet to get a complete list of suspensions and information about how to address them.

 

Request official abstract: Ask for a copy of your official abstract (for $15) by visiting MVC's website at: www.state.nj.us/mvc/Licenses/driver_history_page.htm  or by mailing the request with check or money order to:

 

NJ Motor Vehicle Commission, Abstract Unit
P.O. Box 142
Trenton, NJ 08666

 

Additional tips and information: Download this document with helpful numbers and websites as well as tips for avoiding suspensions when pleading guilty.

 

NJ Legislation Authorizes Municipal Courts to Provide Alternatives to Driver's License Suspension Payment: Legislation authorizing municipal courts to provide payment alternatives was enacted effective January 18, 2010. If a municipal court finds that a person does not have the ability to pay a penalty in full on the date of the hearing, the court may order the payment of the penalty in installments for a period of time determined by the court. This authorization provides municipal judges more discretionary power over license suspension fines and penalties.

 

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License Reinstatement Program in Essex County (LRP): A unique demonstration project of the Essex County municipal courts, which allows those with suspensions due to unpaid fines in the county to consolidate all fines into one affordable payment plan and reinstate their licenses while they pay the fines down. To download a brochure that explains the program, click here.

 

Essex County Resources: get a list of county resources by downloading it here.

 

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TO DOWNLOAD ALL OF THIS INFORMATION IN ONE DOCUMENT, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

 

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Roadblock on the Way to Work: This 2001 report was the first to document the role of license suspension as a barrier to employment and to the state's economic development goals.

 

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• Driver's License Restoration Trainings:
  The New Jersey Institute for Social Justice conducts trainings on how to use "Getting Back on the Road: A Manual for Addressing Driver's License Suspension in New Jersey" () to assist service providers'' clients with driver's license restoration. The purpose of the Driver's License Restoration Training is to teach service providers and advocates a step-by-step process for assisting individuals with suspended licenses. It is our hope that this training can assist service providers in helping New Jersey residents reach employment and greater economic stability.
  
  We invite job developers, case managers, counselors and other advocates to a two-hour training session on helping clients address driver's license suspension issues in New Jersey. Participants learn how to read MVC driver's abstracts, what the various kinds of suspension are and how to address each of them, and additional tips for negotiating the judicial and administrative processes involved.

 

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• Driver's License Restoration Fairs:
  With a growing public need to understand the process of restoring suspended driver's license, the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice also offers, on occasions, Driver License Restoration Fairs that are open to all members of the public. The fairs provide an opportunity for individuals with suspended license to obtain information on and assistance with restoring their licenses, if possible. (To sponsor a fair in your area, please contact us at info@njisj.org).

For press coverage on our 2009 Newark Fair, click here.

 

 

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