In Ohio, parents who fell behind on child support payments had their drivers licenses suspended after 30 days, until a new law pushed that punishment back to 104 days, allowing non-custodial parents more time to get back on track, WDTN reports.

Charles Jones, a resident of Montgomery County, told the news source that he believes the new law will be more effective than the old version, because taking away someone’s ability to drive can hinder them from going to work, making money and sending child support checks.

Non-custodial parents in the state who have struggled to make ends meet are welcoming the new law.

“I understand that kids need their child support and that men should pay their child support, but it’s hard times out here and I believe there should be some kind of programs for the fathers,” Lawrence Perkins, who pays child support, told the news source.

According to the Columbus Dispatch, the new law was passed as part of the state budget and will take effect on September 28. The state also recently passed sentencing reform that encourages judges to keep non-payers out of jail. Instead, probation or community service is preferred, the news source reports.

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