Originally published on January 22, 2021 3:09 pm
As of October last year, Oregon stopped automatically suspending people’s driver’s licenses if they didn’t pay a traffic citation in time. But previous suspensions are still in force.
Tracy Chavez of Bend has had her license suspended for over 26 years because of a traffic citation issued in Phoenix.
“That made it hard to find a job, to get her kids to where they needed to go, to go to the grocery store to buy food,” says her attorney, Emily Teplin Fox of the Oregon Law Center. “And like a lot of people, she accumulated additional fees and fines and saw the amounts she owed balloon.”
January 25 2021
Recent legislation helped, but many Oregonians - particularly Black and Hispanic families - face additional challenges
In December s one-day special session, Oregon lawmakers took action to ensure that Oregonians won t be evicted during the darkest days of winter as COVID-19 continues to disrupt our communities and economy.
Through the passage of House Bill 4401, the Oregon Legislature recognized the importance of having a safe and stable home.
Testimony in favor of the bill came from nearly 200 renters, landlords, faith leaders and service organizations, painting a powerful picture of the financial insecurity the virus has wrought on Oregon families in every part of the state.
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The small Southern Oregon town of Phoenix is taking the lead in dismissing old traffic court debt, which can often haunt low-income people for years.
As of October last year, Oregon stopped automatically suspending people’s driver’s licenses if they didn’t pay a traffic citation in time. But previous suspensions are still in force.
Tracy Chavez of Bend has had her license suspended for over 26 years because of a traffic citation issued in Phoenix.
“That made it hard to find a job, to get her kids to where they needed to go, to go to the grocery store to buy food,” says her attorney, Emily Teplin Fox of the Oregon Law Center. “And like a lot of people, she accumulated additional fees and fines and saw the amounts she owed balloon.”
From the City Club of Eugene:
The recent deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many other unarmed African Americans have heightened awareness of systemic racism and its foundation, implicit bias.
Implicit biases are unconscious attitudes and stereotypes that can manifest in criminal justice systems, workplaces, school settings, and healthcare systems. Implicit biases are based on many factors, including race, gender, and sexuality. We can deal with–and hopefully reverse–implicit biases only when we see how they impact thoughts and decisions. Removing these biases is a challenge, especially because we often don’t even know they exist, but research reveals potential interventions.