Georgia suspending licenses over child support

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Delinquent child support is a big problem nationwide. In an effort to collect, Florida is holding non-custodial parents' feet to the fire.  No money, no driver's license.

“The Department of Revenue and the state of Florida does look at it like it does work. Like it does bring in a lot of money,” Paul Dick said.

Dick has been working child support cases for more than 20 years. Like anything, he believes the suspension program comes with challenges.

“You don't ever know the particular circumstances.

There's plenty of people out there who've had their driver's licenses plain suspended and they don't know what to do or how to start the process,” Dick continued.

Local parents we spoke with are split over the issue.

“I think it's appropriate,” Joy Domondon said.

“I believe the lawmakers need to rethink this -- because how can a mother pay her child support if she's unable to drive to work?" Karen Buss asked.

Georgia is the latest state to suspend for non-payment.

Some 12,000 drivers are expected to have the plug pulled Wednesday.

We did some checking for Florida and learned:

From Oct. 1, 2013 through July 31, 2014, the Department of Revenue initiated approximately 167,502 driver's license suspension actions and collected approximately $52.5 million from those actions.

The point is to get children the resources they need to live and grow up. For that, Dick believes the program is here to stay.

Before your license is suspended, you'll get a letter in the mail warning you about what's to come.

You do also have the chance to petition the court to lower your child support.

WJAX