Mass. House votes to repeal law that suspended driver’s licenses for drug crimes
The state House of Representatives unanimously voted on Wednesday to repeal a 1989 law that punished those convicted of drug crimes by suspending their driver’s license—whether or not the crime had anything to do with driving.
The Senate passed a similar law repealing that 27-year-old legislation in the fall. Gov. Charlie Baker has indicated he is “open’’ to the legislation as well, the Globe reports.
Though intended to deter drug use, advocates say suspending licenses limits the ability of prior drug users to get their life back on the path to recovery.
“If you were going to develop a public policy to promote recidivism, isn’t this just the way you would do it?’’ said Nancy T. Bennett, deputy chief counsel at the state’s public defender agency.
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