Cook County woman tearfully reunites with her family after 12-year suspension lifted, thanks to free legal services.
A mother of five, Calanthea Caldwell, 36, had been unable to drive for a decade due to accumulation of traffic tickets and missed court appearances. The Illinois driver's license suspensions disproportionately affected people of color, according to organizers.
Caldwell spent nearly $80 per day on Uber rides, racking up significant debt while working one job. Her suspended license cost her dearly - both financially and emotionally.
However, with the help of free legal services offered by the Driver’s License Reinstatement Expo in Chicago, Caldwell was finally able to get her license reinstated. The event provides Cook County residents with a chance to resolve suspended or revoked driver's licenses.
Alex Garcia, founder of the expo, highlighted how policy changes can reduce such suspensions disproportionately affecting communities of color. Garcia said that continued need for these events reflects systemic issues in Illinois' traffic laws.
At this weekend’s event, nearly 500 people attended and walked away with a renewed sense of freedom behind the wheel. One attendee, Jamari Cotton, also had his license reinstated after accumulating multiple traffic violations before turning 22. His cases were dismissed due to lack of DUI-related offenses.
The organizers, including Deputy Public Defender Parle Roe-Taylor and Attorney Shay Meredith, who worked pro bono at Saturday’s event, aim to help others avoid such prolonged suspensions through better access to legal representation.
“Everyone is coming together so that we can complete our mission to get people in the position to drive — legally, properly, and under all the rules of the road,” Roe-Taylor said. Cotton expressed his gratitude after a decade without driving: “I've just been granted a privilege again.”
A mother of five, Calanthea Caldwell, 36, had been unable to drive for a decade due to accumulation of traffic tickets and missed court appearances. The Illinois driver's license suspensions disproportionately affected people of color, according to organizers.
Caldwell spent nearly $80 per day on Uber rides, racking up significant debt while working one job. Her suspended license cost her dearly - both financially and emotionally.
However, with the help of free legal services offered by the Driver’s License Reinstatement Expo in Chicago, Caldwell was finally able to get her license reinstated. The event provides Cook County residents with a chance to resolve suspended or revoked driver's licenses.
Alex Garcia, founder of the expo, highlighted how policy changes can reduce such suspensions disproportionately affecting communities of color. Garcia said that continued need for these events reflects systemic issues in Illinois' traffic laws.
At this weekend’s event, nearly 500 people attended and walked away with a renewed sense of freedom behind the wheel. One attendee, Jamari Cotton, also had his license reinstated after accumulating multiple traffic violations before turning 22. His cases were dismissed due to lack of DUI-related offenses.
The organizers, including Deputy Public Defender Parle Roe-Taylor and Attorney Shay Meredith, who worked pro bono at Saturday’s event, aim to help others avoid such prolonged suspensions through better access to legal representation.
“Everyone is coming together so that we can complete our mission to get people in the position to drive — legally, properly, and under all the rules of the road,” Roe-Taylor said. Cotton expressed his gratitude after a decade without driving: “I've just been granted a privilege again.”
I'm loving this story about Calanthea Caldwell's journey! 12 years without driving is insane 
, and $80 a day on Uber rides? That's like, crazy money 
. I feel so bad for her and her family, who must've had to deal with all that stress and financial burden 
.
. It just goes to show that there are good people out there trying to make a difference 
. And I love how they're highlighting these systemic issues with traffic laws - it's like, we need to make our roads fairer and more accessible for everyone 
.
. And Jamari Cotton's story? So relatable 
. I mean, who hasn't gotten a ticket or two (or ten) at some point in their lives? 
. And kudos to Deputy Public Defender Parle Roe-Taylor and Attorney Shay Meredith for working pro bono - you guys are the real MVPs 
!
and i'm all about it, who needs that kinda stress? 
. anywayz gotta give props to Alex Garcia and all those organizers, they're like the real MVPs 
, helping people get back on track with their licenses, it's like a new chapter in their lives 
... I mean, think about it, 12 whole years without being able to drive? That's like, losing a part of yourself, you know? The financial burden is one thing, but the emotional toll is way deeper. It's like, your identity is tied to your freedom, and when that's taken away, it's hard to come back from.
. the fact that there are people like Alex Garcia and Parle Roe-Taylor working pro bono to help others is amazing 
. The idea of free legal services at the Driver’s License Reinstatement Expo in Chicago is super cool 
. We can't just keep reinventing the wheel here; we need to tackle the root causes of these suspensions and ensure that everyone has access to quality legal representation 
. Still, props to Alex Garcia and the organizers for doing their part to help people like Calanthea and Jamari get back behind the wheel 
.
. We should be supporting more initiatives like this Driver’s License Reinstatement Expo, where people can get help without breaking the bank 
.