Saving time and money: ‘Operation Green Light’ benefits Pinellas drivers

Pinellas Resident Richard Walker got his driver license back as part of Operation Green Light.

Pinellas County drivers saved more than $100,000 last week as part of the Clerk of Court’s Operation Green Light initiative.

The three day event on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday offered individuals in Pinellas County the opportunity to reinstate driver licenses by paying overdue court and traffic fines at a discount of up to 25 percent.

More than 1,000 people participated. Another 400 are being cleared for reinstatement.

“I can definitely say this program has brought me a slice of freedom and it will help me achieve goals I couldn’t do without my license,” said Richard Walker, a driver whose license was reinstated.

The event was a win-win for both residents and the Clerk’s office as drivers were able to payback fines and fees at discounted rates and the Clerk’s office was able to recoup fees that might have otherwise gone unpaid.

Under a law passed earlier this year, Clerk’s offices statewide are required to offer a driver license reinstatement program at least once a year. The Pinellas County Clerk’s office recommends drivers or those with suspended licenses contact their office to discuss payment plan options even if they missed this year’s event. Such plans are available year round.

“Operation Green Light offered a great opportunity to customers with cases in collections and we’re happy so many people got the break they needed to get their license back,”said Pinellas County Clerk of Court Ken Burke. “The goal was to get more legal drivers out there and this initiative helped customers be able to afford it.”

The 2019 legislation sponsored by Rep. Chip LaMarca was aimed at reducing the number of would-be drivers whose licenses are suspended due to unpaid fines or fees or other easily reconciled matters.

Having a suspended driver license can launch a crippling downward spiral for some Floridians who, unable to afford fines to reinstate a license, lose jobs because they no longer have transportation or face other more serious legal troubles if they get caught driving on a suspended license.

In Florida and many other states drivers can have their license suspended for failing to pay things like speeding or parking tickets.