Margie Cullen, “Unpaid parking tickets? MA bill would let you keep your license,” USA Today, January 15, 2026.

While the practice is meant to coerce people into paying their fines, some studies suggest that the practice does not increase collections of fines. And supporters of the bill say that the practice punishes the poor and traps people into a cycle of debt.

“When someone’s license is suspended because they are unable to afford to pay off their fines and fees, they are placed in an impossible situation,” Jonathan Cohn, the Policy Director of Progressive Massachusetts, wrote in testimony in support of the bill in July. “If they stop driving, they might lose access to job opportunities that they need to pay the fine. If they continue driving, then they risk further punishment.”