TELL LAWMAKERS: REGULATE FACE SURVEILLANCE AND END DEBT-BASED LICENSE SUSPENSIONS

TAKE ACTION NOW

Last year, Massachusetts passed some crucial policing reforms, but Governor Baker blocked any meaningful restrictions on the government's use of face surveillance-a dangerous and racially biased technology. This bill would restore the legislature's original proposals that Baker vetoed.

We're also calling on lawmakers to end debt-based driver's license suspensions. Every year, Massachusetts suspends the licenses of tens of thousands of people for reasons that have nothing to do with road safety. This practice pushes people deeper into poverty and debt, and it has to stop.

These are just two of our priority bills for 2021, so stay tuned for more action opportunities!

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Subject

As your constituent, I urge you to support legislation this session that will preserve and strengthen civil rights and civil liberties.

In particular, I'm asking you to co-sponsor two bills that are critical to ensuring a more just legal system in the Commonwealth: (1) An Act to Regulate Face Surveillance; and (2) An Act to End Debt-Based Incarceration & License Suspensions.

Message Body

An Act to Regulate Face Surveillance, (HD3228, filed by Reps. Dave Rogers and Orlando Ramos & SD2134, filed by Sen. Creem), will strengthen regulation of government use of this dangerous and racially biased face recognition technology, which can screen, identify, and surveil people from a distance. This legislation follows the model passed by the House and Senate last session in the policing bill, before Gov. Baker returned the legislation with amendments that severely undermined the legislature's intent. It will put in place commonsense checks and balances on government use of face surveillance by ensuring that government agencies cannot track every person's activities in public places, that Black men are not exposed to increased risk of false arrest, and that defendants have access to all the evidence being used against them.

An Act to End Debt-based Incarceration and Suspensions, (HD2885, filed by Rep. Elugardo & SD2040, filed by Sen. Cyr) would fix a misguided system that punishes people who are struggling to make ends meet by stripping them of the right to drive. Every year, Massachusetts suspends the licenses of tens of thousands of people, for reasons that have nothing to do with road safety. This does nothing but force people deeper into debt and keep them from meeting basic needs, like driving to medical appointments and work.

Driver's license suspensions should serve the purpose of keeping unsafe drivers off the roads-this penalty should never be used to criminalize poverty. At a time of widespread unemployment and mounting debt, it's more important than ever for the Commonwealth to stop imposing financial penalties on the people who can least afford it and remove barriers to economic stability instead.

The legislature accomplished some great things last year, even in the midst of a crisis. As the crisis continues, the people of Massachusetts are counting on you and your colleagues to pass more bills like these to fight the ongoing scourges of poverty and institutional racism.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]

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TELL LAWMAKERS: REGULATE FACE SURVEILLANCE AND END DEBT-BASED LICENSE SUSPENSIONS

TAKE ACTION NOW

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