tn.gov
A sample Tennessee driver license.
Shelby County court dockets are down 43 percent, according to Shelby County District Attorney Amy Weirich, because her office is no longer prosecuting cases involving drivers whose licenses are revoked only because they owe fines.
Weirich
“These cases take up valuable time and resources in court and do nothing to move the needle on public safety,” Weirich said in a statement. “We’re trying to help get people out of the revolving door in which they are simply accumulating more and more debt for basically driving while poor.
“Those whose licenses have been revoked for reasons such as drunken driving or other criminal activity will still be prosecuted, but if your driver’s license has been revoked only because you owe fines or child support, the case will be dismissed.”
Shelby County District Attorney’s office
Since the policy began, Weirich said 3,643 cases of “driving while license suspended, revoked or cancelled” (DWLSRC) have been dismissed by prosecutors, reducing the dockets by 43 percent in General Sessions Criminal Courts.
[pullquote-1] But Weirich said the new policy does not mean that it’s “open season” on driving on a revoked license, because you still can be stopped, arrested or ticketed, and be required to come down to 201 Poplar.
“Also, prosecutors still will use their discretion, so if someone who owes money also is deemed to be a danger to the community, that driver will be in for a bad day,” Weirich said.
