A Carrot-And-Stick Approach To Helping Suspended Drivers
A pilot program set to begin July 1 in St. Paul, West St. Paul, South St. Paul, Inver Grove Heights and Duluth offers a carrot-and-stick approach to help those drivers get legal. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety limited the number of cities to participate initially, but Minneapolis and other cities may be allowed to join later.
The cities will work with Financial Crimes Services, a private company based in Red Wing, and the state Department of Public Safety (DPS). Participants, who will be chosen by prosecutors, will receive a "diversion license," similar in all respects to a regular driver's license except to those behind the scenes. A bill approved by the Legislature this spring allows the DPS to issue such a license. In the past, a driver had to pay all outstanding fines and fees up front before they could get their license back.
Published by the Star Tribune on 06/15/09 - Read thre rest