New Law Gives Suspended Drivers 2nd Chance

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - You know who you are. You're that furtive driver who takes all the back streets to work. The jittery one who makes that quick right turn at the light. The gambler who suddenly tries to wedge in between two cars when you've frantically spotted a cop in the rearview mirror. Yep, you're among those 'riding dirty' behind the wheel.

According to General Sessions Court Clerk Otis Jackson, Jr.,"In Shelby County it's anywhere from 30 to 50 thousand people out here driving on a suspended license."

Take heart, lawbreakers. A reprieve is now available to you compliments of a Tennessee law which took effect on July 1st. The amended Driver's Recovery Law gives those who want to get on the right side of law a golden opportunity.

"This bill will allow people to come in now and get on a payment plan to help get their lives back together as far as being able to obtain their license and where they can drive," said City Court Clerk Thomas Long.

At a joint Monday news conference at the Criminal Justice Center, Otis Jackson, Jr., Thomas Long and a representative from the County Criminal Court Clerk's office stressed under the new law those pesky and financially strapping one lump payments to get your license back can be comfortably stretched out.

"We have a program set up for each individual," said Jackson. "It's going to tell how much they owe, how much they put down and how much the monthly [payment] based on how much they owe."

"Everybody is in now. You can now get your driver's license back. You can go to General Sessions. You can go to criminal court and you always can come to the city court clerk and then set-up a payment plan and drive legally," said Long.

"They'll be driving with good license. But, once they get in the program, if they fail to do what they agreed do, then their license will go back in suspension," warned Jackson. "To get on the right side of the law, it's time to do it. And now all the people involved have made it possible now for everybody to get on the right side of the law."

Besides, you've got to admit - making all those quick right turns gets old, doesn't it?