Cook County mother of five Calanthea Caldwell tearfully hugged her children after learning that all charges against her were dropped, allowing her to get back behind the wheel for the first time in 12 years. The 36-year-old operating room technician's license was suspended in 2014 for driving without insurance, and subsequent violations piled up, including failure to appear in court and minor traffic tickets.
Caldwell, who has been paying nearly $80 per day in Uber rides to get herself and her children to work and school, said she is "racking up more debt than I'm able to pay working one job." Her struggles have come as a result of the high cost of reinstating her license.
Fortunately for Caldwell, the Driver's License Reinstatement Expo, held at Malcolm X College in Pilsen, provided free legal assistance to help restore suspended licenses. Over 500 people registered to attend, with many more walk-ins. The event was hosted by the Pilsen Neighbors Community Council and partnered with local organizations, including the Illinois Secretary of State's office, Cook County public defender's office, judges, and pro bono attorneys.
The expo aims to support Black and Brown communities disproportionately impacted by license suspensions during Black History Month and Hispanic Heritage Month. Founder Alex Garcia said that continued need for the event highlights how suspensions disproportionately impact people of color.
For individuals like Caldwell, the cost of reinstating a suspended license can be prohibitive, often leading to expensive ride-sharing fees or lengthy commutes using public transportation. Deputy Public Defender Parle Roe-Taylor emphasized that many reasons for license suspension are not related to reckless driving but rather to financial struggles and lack of access to court.
Caldwell's case is one example of how the system can fail those who need it most. After accumulating multiple traffic violations before turning 21, Jamari Cotton, a 22-year-old sophomore studying electrical engineering at Western Illinois University, had his license suspended. However, with the help of pro bono attorney Martha Soto, all charges against him were dismissed.
Despite having their charges dropped, both Caldwell and Cotton will still need to complete a driving test and re-register their licenses before legally returning to the road. Their stories highlight the need for support systems like the Driver's License Reinstatement Expo, which bring together community organizations and local authorities to provide resources for those affected by suspended or revoked licenses.
Garcia said that while the event is vital, there should be a shift in policies to prevent such suspensions from occurring in the first place. By working together, it may be possible to create a more equitable transportation system for all residents of Cook County.
Caldwell, who has been paying nearly $80 per day in Uber rides to get herself and her children to work and school, said she is "racking up more debt than I'm able to pay working one job." Her struggles have come as a result of the high cost of reinstating her license.
Fortunately for Caldwell, the Driver's License Reinstatement Expo, held at Malcolm X College in Pilsen, provided free legal assistance to help restore suspended licenses. Over 500 people registered to attend, with many more walk-ins. The event was hosted by the Pilsen Neighbors Community Council and partnered with local organizations, including the Illinois Secretary of State's office, Cook County public defender's office, judges, and pro bono attorneys.
The expo aims to support Black and Brown communities disproportionately impacted by license suspensions during Black History Month and Hispanic Heritage Month. Founder Alex Garcia said that continued need for the event highlights how suspensions disproportionately impact people of color.
For individuals like Caldwell, the cost of reinstating a suspended license can be prohibitive, often leading to expensive ride-sharing fees or lengthy commutes using public transportation. Deputy Public Defender Parle Roe-Taylor emphasized that many reasons for license suspension are not related to reckless driving but rather to financial struggles and lack of access to court.
Caldwell's case is one example of how the system can fail those who need it most. After accumulating multiple traffic violations before turning 21, Jamari Cotton, a 22-year-old sophomore studying electrical engineering at Western Illinois University, had his license suspended. However, with the help of pro bono attorney Martha Soto, all charges against him were dismissed.
Despite having their charges dropped, both Caldwell and Cotton will still need to complete a driving test and re-register their licenses before legally returning to the road. Their stories highlight the need for support systems like the Driver's License Reinstatement Expo, which bring together community organizations and local authorities to provide resources for those affected by suspended or revoked licenses.
Garcia said that while the event is vital, there should be a shift in policies to prevent such suspensions from occurring in the first place. By working together, it may be possible to create a more equitable transportation system for all residents of Cook County.
I'm so done with how broken our system is! Like, come on, Calanthea was already struggling to make ends meet with five kids and a job, and now she's gotta pay $80/day just to get around? That's wild. And what really gets me is that these suspensions don't even always have anything to do with reckless driving... it's all about financial struggles and lack of access to court. 
It's like, we need to find a way to support people who are already down on their luck, not just punish them for trying to survive.
The cost of reinstating a suspended license can be like trying to escape a debt cycle that's suffocating you... but what if we looked at it differently? What if instead of seeing it as an insurmountable roadblock, we saw it as a chance to learn and grow? Like Calanthea Caldwell, we could find ways to navigate the system, even when it feels like it's against us. We don't have to be held back by our circumstances! 
And that's why I think events like the Driver's License Reinstatement Expo are so powerful - they're not just about getting a license back, but about building a safety net for people who need it most. By working together and supporting each other, we can create a more equitable transportation system that lifts everyone up! 
I feel so bad for Calanthea Caldwell, a single mom of five who's been struggling to make ends meet. She's paying over $80 a day in Uber rides just to get herself and her kids to work and school - that's like taking away half her paycheck! 
It's crazy how the system can fail people when they need it most, especially when it comes to things as basic as transportation. I hope her case inspires some change in policies so this doesn't happen to others. We should be supporting our communities, not adding more stress and financial burdens to them. 
And what really gets me is that there are people like Alex Garcia who are trying to help, but still, the system seems broken. Like, how do we prevent these situations from happening in the first place? Shouldn't we have a better way of supporting our communities, especially those already struggling?
$80/day for a ride?! That's crazy talk! And it's not just her, there are so many others like Calanthea who are struggling. We need to make some changes in our system ASAP! 
I'm glad that events like the Driver's License Reinstatement Expo are helping to raise awareness about these issues and providing free resources for people who need them most 
It's not just about getting back behind the wheel, it's about being able to live your life with some freedom 
. and now they're saying there should be policies in place to prevent these suspensions from happening in the first place... like, why not right? 
it's all about having access to resources and support when you need them most, you know?
... license suspension is already a huge burden but the cost 2 reinstate it? that's just not fair. I mean, what kinda system fails ppl like calanthea Caldwell who r barely makin ends meet? it's all well & good we got events like this expo but isn't it time we rethink our policies 2 prevent these suspensions in the 1st place? 
, she must've been stressing out big time with her daily Uber rides 
. It's not just about driving without insurance or showing up late to court 