Indiana traffic fine amnesty bill approved by lawmakers

Indiana residents with suspended driver’s licenses or unpaid traffic fines will have the chance to have the fees they face cut in half by petitioning a court. An estimated 185,000 drivers could be eligible for the penalty reductions.

Legislators have approved House Enrolled Act 1141, creating a traffic amnesty program. The legislation that now goes to Gov. Eric Holcomb’s desk provides an amnesty period during which fines and reinstatement fees imposed before Jan. 1 can be reduced by petitioning a court. The amnesty period will last all of 2020 under the bill.

Bill supporters say license suspensions because of overdue fines hit the poor especially hard and make traveling to jobs difficult for many people.

Drivers now face fees from $250 to $1,000 for license reinstatements.