The event, hosted annually by the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court, takes place this year on May 5, 9, and 12 at the George E. Edgecomb Courthouse in courtroom 21.
Applications are open from now until April 25, to help constituents save money, settle court obligations and get back on the road. But only 450 spots are available, and the clerk’s office says that as of this week, 150 applicants have applied at the county’s website.
At the event, judges will review the driver’s case history and determine if any court fines or fees can be reduced. Driving and court records are reviewed in advance, and qualified participants receive a notice of hearing in the mail of their scheduled time. Those who qualify can get a driver’s license on the spot once court obligations are complete.
“The driver’s license reinstatement event helps our community get back to work, take their kids to school and run errands,” wrote the clerk’s office in a press release.
Last year, the event registered 300 eligible people for new licenses. This year, more spots were added to the program, but space is running out quickly. Suspension for non-payment of child support, driving under the influence, felony traffic offenses, commercial driver’s licenses, and other situations disqualify an applicant.
For the event, the clerk’s office partners with the 13th Judicial Circuit, the State Attorney’s Office, the Public Defender, the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and the Hillsborough County Tax Collector.
“Our event is in high demand and pre-registration typically fills up as early as mid-March which speaks to the increasing need for events like Operation Green Light,” Cindy Stuart, Hillsborough County Clerk of Court, said.
This article appears in Mar 17-23, 2022.