AB 936

This bill limits a court's authority to suspend the operating privilege of a person

for failure to pay a monetary judgment.

Current law permits a court to suspend for up to two years the operating

privilege of an person who has failed to pay a monetary judgment entered against

the person for a civil violation. This bill reduces the maximum time for which the

operating privilege may be suspended by a court under these circumstances from two

years to three months. The bill also prohibits a court from suspending, for failure

to pay a monetary judgment entered against a person for a civil violation, the

operating privilege of a person who is less than 18 years of age and who is not

currently and has not previously been licensed in this or another state.

Also under current law, the Department of Transportation collects a $50 fee for

reinstatement of an operating privilege previously revoked or suspended. Under this

bill, no fee may be collected for the reinstatement of an operating privilege suspended

for failure to pay a monetary judgment for a civil violation.

Current law requires a court to inform a defendant, both orally and in writing,

of certain information regarding restitution, forfeiture, and the potential

consequences of failure to pay a monetary judgment entered against a person for a

civil violation, including imprisonment or license suspension. Current law also

requires a court to inform a defendant, orally and in writing, that the defendant

should notify the court if he or she is unable to pay the judgment because of poverty,

and that he or she may be allowed to perform community service in lieu of payment

of the judgment. This bill adds a requirement that a court post in each courtroom

the information regarding the possibility of community service in lieu of payment for

those unable to pay.