More than 1.8 million driver license suspensions and revocations occurred in Fiscal Year 2006-07. Of these, 1.5 million (82%) were imposed for failure to comply with a summons to appear in court and/or pay traffic tickets, court fines and costs. While relatively few offenders are sentenced to prison, the number of prison commitments for suspended licenses has disproportionately increased compared to all new commitments. Between Fiscal Years 2000-01 and 2006-07, the number of people sentenced to prison for driving with a suspended license increased by 133% compared to a 47% increase in overall prison commitments.
As of November 30, 2007, there were 1,662 offenders in prison for driving with suspended licenses. Our analysis of 904 of these inmates' driving and criminal histories showed that virtually all had prior criminal histories. However, some of these inmates had committed less serious driving and criminal offenses. Because of competing needs for resources and the limited number of prison beds, the Legislature could consider alternatives to incarceration for less dangerous offenders convicted of driving with suspended licenses. These alternatives include day work camps, electronic monitoring, vehicle impoundment or immobilization, and revising statutory eligibility for prison.

Options Exist to Modify Use of Driver License Suspension for Non-Driving-Related Reasons
Report 14-07 February 2014
Without Changes, Expansion Drug Courts Unlikely to Realize Expected Cost Savings
Report 10-54 October 2010

Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.