Massachusetts Road to Opportunity Act would end practice of taking away driver’s licenses in certain instances

BOSTON – According to a release from the ACLU, a new statewide survey of more than 1,000 Massachusetts voters conducted by Beacon Research finds strong support for passage of the Road to Opportunity Act, with 78% backing the legislation and just 16% opposed. High support for the legislation is bipartisan – with virtually equal support from Democrats and Republicans – and spans every region of the Commonwealth and major demographic groups.

The Road to Opportunity Act would end the Massachusetts practice of taking away driver’s licenses for reasons that have nothing to do with unsafe driving, such as unpaid parking tickets and toll fees or failure to update a mailing address.

“At a time when Massachusetts families are grappling with some of the highest costs of living in the nation, it makes zero sense to take away someone’s driver’s license for reasons that have nothing to do with public safety. The Road to Opportunity Act is about common sense and basic fairness, ending a punitive, counterproductive practice that traps people in debt and makes it harder for them to get to work, care for their families, and contribute to their communities,” said Sen. Julian Cyr (D – Cape and Islands). “This polling confirms what we’ve heard from residents across the Commonwealth: people want a system that prioritizes safety on our roads, not one that punishes poverty.”

The ACLU states that with residents battling some of the highest costs of living in the country and holding record personal debt, the practice of taking away driver’s licenses for non-safety related debts and related issues creates barriers for low-income families to make ends meet.

The Road to Opportunity Act would still allow for license suspensions for drunk or dangerous driving violations.

“The findings validate what residents across the Commonwealth already understand, and why I filed the Road to Opportunity bill as lead sponsor,” said Rep. Brandy Fluker-Reid (D – Boston). “Debt-based license suspensions punish people for their financial circumstances, not their driving behavior. Access to a driver’s license is critical for work, caregiving, and daily life. This bill keeps opportunity within reach for all, ensuring that no one in Massachusetts is denied based on economic circumstances.”

The survey reveals more than 90% support changing the law to allow drivers to pay larger debts on a payment plan. Over three-quarters also support the bill’s provisions requiring the RMV to send text and email notifications about unpaid debts, and allowing these debts to be waived or reduced if the driver proves they are unable to afford them, an option which does not currently exist.

“As Attorney General, it is my mission to advance economic opportunity and consumer justice for all,” said Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell. “By eliminating the practice of using driver’s license suspensions as a penalty for unpaid debts, the Road to Opportunity Act will remove barriers to accessing basic necessities and enable more Massachusetts residents to get to work, especially in rural and low-income communities. Thank you to Representative Fluker-Reid and Senator Cyr for championing this legislation.”

In late 2025, the Senate version of the bill cleared the Massachusetts Legislature’s Joint Committee on Transportation with a unanimous vote in favor of advancing the legislation. The bill is formally called An Act to increase opportunity by ending debt-based driving restrictions.