Socioeconomic and Racial Disparities in Driver’s License Suspension

Individuals can have their driver’s license suspended when they do not pay a traffic fine or respond to a court summons, often with significant consequences for their lives. New York recently passed legislation to end suspensions for unpaid traffic tickets out of concern that they disproportionately affect lower-income drivers and drivers of color. Sociologists Maureen Waller and Peter Rich will examine the socioeconomic and racial disparities in driver’s license suspensions in New York and the impact of legislation designed to reduce these disparities. They will conduct interviews and analyze data from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles and the American Community Survey for their study.