The Georgia Department of Driver Services hopes to save hundreds of thousands of dollars by scrapping the use of certified mail when it notifies people it’s about to revoke their driver’s licenses.
House Bill 890 would allow the agency to use a "certificate of mailing" for such notifications - a method of mailing in which the U.S. Postal Service provides evidence that an item has been sent and the date the item was accepted. The agency would still have the option of using certified mail. The agency says it spends about $1 million a year on certified mail, and almost half of it is returned.
By switching to certificate of mailing, the Department of Driver Services believes it can save about $765,000 a year.
"This is money that's being wasted," Rep. Sam Watson, R-Moultrie, the bill's sponsor, told the House Motor Vehicles Committee Tuesday. He said the bill is "just good government and a good way to treat taxpayer money."
Under state law, the department must suspend drivers’ licenses for various reasons, including a failure to pay child support.
Some Democrats and defense attorneys worry that, without certified mail – which confirms delivery to the person addressed – some people won’t find out they’re going to lose their license until it’s too late.
Rep. Gregg Kennard, D-Lawrenceville, said most people want to comply with child support laws, but many have a hard time making the payments. He and other Democrats fear that switching from certified mail would deprive them of one more chance to comply with the law before losing their license.
“I’m fundamentally against any measure that makes it harder for these folks to get back on their feet,” Kennard said.
HB 890 passed the committee and now heads to the House Rules Committee for consideration.
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