Thousands of Lee County drivers have suspended licenses without knowing it

LEE COUNTY, Fla. —

Lee County officials estimate that 20,000 drivers are currently on the road with suspended licenses, many of whom are unaware they are breaking the law.

“20,000 people? In Lee County? That’s a lot of people. I would never expect that,” said Derick Mendez, a local driver. “That’s insane.”

Census figures show that about 670,000 people over the age of 16 live in Lee County and are eligible to drive, meaning approximately 3% of them have suspended licenses.

“I would never in a million years know that,” Mendez said.

“It’s mainly for people who have not paid their court fines and fees or have not finished their traffic school,” said Kevin Karnes, Lee County Clerk of Courts.

Unpaid traffic tickets can lead to serious legal consequences over time. “You can get arrested and go to jail for driving on a suspended license,” Karnes said.

To address the issue, the Clerk of Courts is offering a second chance through Operation Green Light, a program designed to help drivers resolve their suspended licenses. “Come to the clerk’s office, tell us what you can pay, and that clears up your license,” Karnes said.

“I believe everybody deserves to get a second chance,” said Gavin Brody, another local driver.

Operation Green Light aims to prevent further legal complications and get more drivers legally back on the road. “This is all about handling your traffic tickets and your suspended licenses now, so the issue doesn’t get worse in the future,” Karnes said.

The program will run from April 14 through April 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Clerk of Courts office in downtown Fort Myers.

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