40 Deadbeat Parents Lose Driver’s Licenses

Forty Idaho parents are having their driver’s licenses suspended for failing to make arrangements to pay child support, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare announced.

The suspensions are the first under Idaho’s license suspension law that took effect Jan. 1. Collectively, the 35 men and five women whose licenses were ordered suspended owe $794,978 in child support to 92 children, Health and Welfare said Thursday.

“We believe there has been plenty of time for these individuals to make arrangements to pay past due child support,” Mary Anne Saunders, the agency’s special deputy for welfare reform. “We simply asked those who owe money to set up a payment schedule and take care of those who deserve the money - children.”

Health and Welfare said more than 850 notices of intent to suspend have been sent statewide to non-custodial parents who owe at least $2,000 or are 90 days behind in child support. Once the letters are received, parents have 21 days to request a hearing or their licenses are automatically suspended.