AG Healey: Don’t Suspend Drivers’ Licenses for Drug Offenders

BOSTON (AP) _ Attorney General Maura Healey said she supports repealing a Massachusetts law that automatically suspends the driver's license of anyone convicted of a drug offense.

Healey said her office has seen no evidence that license suspensions are an effective way to deter drug offenses unrelated to driving.

Instead, Healey said, suspending licenses have prevented people from getting to work, getting to the grocery store, picking their children up from school and taking their parents or other family members to medical appointments.

Healey testified Thursday at the Statehouse before the Legislature's Transportation Committee.

About 7,000 people in Massachusetts have their licenses suspended each year for drug crimes, even if those offenses didn't involve a car.

Healey said 34 states have already eliminated provisions automatically suspending licenses for drug offenses.