Last week, the South Carolina Senate approved a resolution stating their intention to opt out of a federal mandate requiring law enforcement to suspend the driver’s license of any individual convicted of a drug offense, regardless of whether the offense was traffic-related or not. SB 1343, sponsored by Sen. Gerald Malloy (D-Darlington), recognizes the seriousness of suspending a driver’s license and the absurdity of requiring a suspension without looking at the totality of the circumstances. Please e-mail your senators and representatives urging them to pass the necessary legislation to accomplish this opt-out.
Under current legislation, any individual convicted of a drug charge will have her or his license suspended automatically, making it impossible for many marijuana users to work. Sentencing reform legislation championed by Sen. Malloy recently passed the Senate and was referred to the House Judiciary Committee; it would retain the automatic license suspension for minors, but not for adults. This recent push in the Senate mirrors legislation introduced by Rep. Sellers in January that would end the mandatory suspension for individuals convicted of marijuana offenses. In order for South Carolina to accomplish this necessary opt-out, they first must pass legislation which will repeal the mandatory suspension. Please ask your legislators to support ending the practice of mandatory driver’s license suspension.
Although this legislative action may seem minimal in comparison with how far marijuana policy has advanced in other states, I’d like to assure you that we are very excited and encouraged by this development. Recognition of a problem is the first step towards solving it. It seems that the good legislators of the Palmetto State have started to realize the absurdity of many of their drug laws. Please e-mail them so they know how vital these changes are.
Thank you for all the good and hard work you do.
