Durham program offers second chance to NC drivers with suspended, revoked license

Often, the suspension comes because the drivers simply don’t have the money to pay a ticket, but Durham is ready to give some a second chance.

The office that is home to the Durham Expunction and Restoration, or DEAR, program opened Wednesday to help people get their licenses and their lives back.

For Chuck Manning, the ability to pay a fine of a couple hundred dollars uprooted his life. Two years ago, he got a speeding ticket he couldn’t pay.

“I was only going like 3 mph over the speed limit,” he said. “I just couldn’t afford it. I have four kids.”

Manning lost his license and, as is the case for many, it had a domino effect, making it hard to find housing and a job.

“You’re in that constant wheel. It’s hard to get out of,” he said.

Now, thanks to the DEAR program, Manning has a driver’s license and freedom once again.

“It means the world,” he said. “I’m employed, I’m able to go spend quality time with my kids.”

The DEAR program was created, in part, by the City of Durham’s Innovation Team, which is tasked with finding innovative solutions to the city’s problems.

“I think it says that we aspire to be a city of second chances,” Manning said.

Program Director Ryan Smith said some in Durham have been without licenses for more than 30 years because of fines and fees. He hopes thousands of people can have outcomes similar to Manning’s.

“Losing your license indefinitely for failing to pay a traffic ticket, that doesn’t seem to me to be really what we want for justice or what it means to hold someone accountable or what we think of when we think of fairness,” Smith said.

In additional to working on driver’s license restoration, the people working with the DEAR program can help people get their criminal records expunged.