From Deseret News archives:

Legislature votes to pull driver's license in child-support cases

Published: Monday, Feb. 26, 2007 12:02 p.m. MST
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
Utah legislators gave their final approval Monday to a measure yanking the driver's license of people who fall behind in child-support payments.

The House voted 44-27 to approve a version of its bill that had been amended by senators, who wanted deadbeats to be able to appeal the loss of a license, first to a state agency and then to the state courts.

House Bill 15 now goes to the desk of Gov. Jon Huntsman, who hasn't made his position on it known.

The state Office of Recovery Services says it has a hard time enforcing child-support payments and wanted to be able to threaten to revoke a driver's license from any parent who is more than two months' late making payments.

A tougher version of the bill was killed last year with a tie-breaking vote by Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem.

This year the chief sponsor, Rep. Julie Fisher, R-Fruit Heights, softened it up to give parents another 90 days to make amends or agree to a payment plan before losing a license. In the meantime they could drive on a conditional license to work, school or for visits with children.

Parents who remain in arrears could lose all driving privileges.

The bill took its final shape on Monday with little debate in the House.

Story continues below
Fisher says it's for people who are "experts at hiding their assets."

"This is like the Rudy Giuliani approach to crime: catch it when it's small rather than wait when it grows too large," she said during an earlier debate last month.

It was not an easy vote even for sympathizers, who say divorce, child support and visitation rights often leave at least one parent feeling cheated by the court system.

One skeptic, Rep. Ron Bigelow, R-West Valley City, said the courts grant no mercy for parents who get sick or lose a job.

Sometimes the custodial parent earns a lot more money than the one on the outside who is forced to pay, he said.

Fisher said deadbeat parents in Utah owe a combined $325 million in back payments and that the threat of losing a license "will provide a credible threat for those who are able to pay but refuse to pay."

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

previousnext

Latest comments

How is non-discrimination a bad move? Can you explain that to me? Wouldn't...

Anything that promotes homosexuality in our community is wrong, including...

One question. If these bills are so good, why has congress optied out of it?...

I can understand that concern for a couple reasons. A landlord over multiple...

If the Republicans are voting for Healthcare bills to die, what is their...

4A preview: Springville vs. Dixie

Dixie is the best team in the state hands down. TV/MC dont stand a chance...

Mega wind project goes online

How much was paid by subsidies? What is the cost of the power? What is the...

I was in the Hill Cumorah Pageant cast this summer. Two days after Ben's...

Dixie St. campus briefs

Congratulations, ladies, on a great accomplishment! Only your second year...

How to reduce the budget; and not on creative ways to raise more taxes. ...

Advertisements
Advertisement