People First, Not Punishment: How a Missed Court Date Leads to a Missed Opportunity

The stories in this book will show you the impact of a suspended driver’s license for a failure to appear on families and communities in North Carolina. Together, they demonstrate the need for people-first policies that promote opportunity and stability rather than creating additional barriers.

North Carolina is one of the remaining states that still suspends driver’s licenses for non-public safety related matters, such as a missed court date (also known as “failure to appear”). These administrative suspensions do not improve public safety because they are not based on dangerous driving.

Instead, driver’s license suspensions for failure to appear create a cycle of instability that makes it harder for people to comply with the law. When individuals lose their license because they missed a court date, they often lose the ability to get to work, care for family members, attend medical appointments, or return to court to resolve their underlying issue. This undermines, rather than promotes, accountability.

Other states have ended license suspensions for failure to appear and have seen improved court compliance and more opportunities for drivers to get back on the road safely. North Carolina can amend its state law to end these suspensions, reserving suspension for unsafe driving behavior. As an alternative to suspension, NC could use more effective, evidence-based tools, such as court reminder systems to promote appearance.