Participating on the Examining Racial Inequality and Reform Through Driver’s License Access team this past year has given me a new lens through which to view driver’s license access in North Carolina. I vividly remember the nervousness I felt before taking my driver’s test as well as the subsequent excitement and autonomy I felt after I had received my license. However, in Durham County alone, around 46,000 individuals have suspended or revoked licenses, often due to failure to pay tickets or appear in court for minor traffic violations. To explore the effects of driver’s license suspension and revocation for Durham residents, our team partnered with the Durham Expunction and Restoration (DEAR) Program, which aims to restore suspended licenses by waiving unpaid traffic tickets and fines. 

During the fall, we developed an interview guide that explored questions of how driver’s license suspension and reinstatement affects life outcomes for Durham residents as well as how unlicensed individuals experience the license restoration process. This project was my first introduction to the process of conducting qualitative research, and I am thankful that it was within this collaborative setting. As a group, we wrestled with how to write questions in the guide that were truly qualitative in nature, avoided assumptions and encapsulated the different interests of our team. Many weeks spent workshopping the guide resulted in a product that our team was excited to utilize in the spring semester.

Starting in January, we began the process of contacting individuals and scheduling interviews with interested participants. We also cleaned interview transcripts from the current and previous rounds of data collection. It was one thing to discuss themes we expected to find in the transcripts, but hearing topics such as interactions with law enforcement, the challenges of maintaining a job or perceptions of roles as caregivers gave me more confidence that the interview guide gave participants the space to discuss their lived experiences.

As I cleaned more transcripts, I began to notice the cyclical patterns that can emerge from not having a valid license. For example, losing one’s license often impacts work due to lack of reliable transportation, which consequently decreases income. Less income leads to inability to pay the fees to restore one’s license in the first place. And this is just one cycle — the effects of losing a driver’s license stretch into many aspects of life. 

As a public policy major, I am often inclined to think of policy solutions when considering an issue. Thus, from a policy standpoint, I became curious about the best methods to “break into” this cycle. The work of the DEAR program in covering fees is certainly a strategic approach, and we were able to hear firsthand accounts of participants’ interactions with DEAR. Moreover, I was fascinated to discover the extent to which individuals whose licenses were restored gained a sense of autonomy and control over their own lives, just as I was so excited to receive my driver’s license. 

I am grateful to Dr. Gassman-Pines, Adrienne Jones and the rest of my team members for their mentorship and collaboration on this project. Combining my interests in promoting equity-driven policymaking and connecting with people to hear their stories, being part of this Bass Connections team was both an informative and rewarding experience. 

August 2023