Tzedek DC Founding President & Director-Counsel Ariel Levinson-Waldman testified last week before the DC Tax Revision Commission regarding the effects of continued enforcement of the Clean Hands Law for small business and occupational licenses.

While the Clean Hands Law no longer applies to driver’s licenses, it does still disqualify people from renewing or obtaining an occupational or small business license if they owe the District more than $100 in parking, traffic, or other fines or fees. The testimony notes that this creates a poverty trap, preventing indebted people from securing a license to earn the income they need to pay their debts.

Read the full testimony here.