Just under 8,000 Virginians had taken action to regain their driving privileges as of early August, one month into a law to reinstate licenses suspended due to unpaid fees went into effect.
Gov. Ralph Northam and civil rights advocates heralded the state budget provision as a win for low-income Virginians, who were caught in a vicious cycle when their licenses were suspended: Unable to drive, many lost the ability to earn an income, care for their families and pay the outstanding fines.