Suspended license. (Newport News: insurance, credit card, home)

[Needing Answers]

Hi all,

I've exhausted myself with phone calls over the past two weeks so I thought I would try here to see if maybe anyone has either been in my situation or knows someone else who has.

In late 2005 I moved to VA from CA for family reasons. Upon moving to VA I obtained a VA driver's license. In February of 2006 I was pulled over for wreckless driving. It was 11pm at night and on a bare freeway in Henrico County. I know, I shouldn't have been speeding. After being pulled over and issued the citation I proceeded home. Altho it was not a justification, I was 6 mos pregnant and was just trying to get home to use the restroom. Not an excuse I know, but there was no one else on the freeway and I was literally 5 mins from my destination.

In march of 06 I moved back to CA. I received nothing in the mail about my ticket. I had assumed it was the same as in CA - if you are issued a citation and you get your fine mailed to you. I had forwarded my mail from VA.
Nothing came.

I had my child and was a stay at home mom.

I went back to work a few weeks ago and went down to my local dmv here in CA. I was told my license had been suspended. This was a friday at 4pm. Saturday morning I got up at 5 am (8am EST) to call the VA DMV. I was told yes my license was suspended and that I would have to call the courthouse to get the fines total. But after I paid the fines I would have to pay $85 to reinstate my VA license. I updated my address with them and hung up.

Monday morning I called the courthouse and was told that my account had been sent to collection since it was over a year old. I was given the # to the collection agency.

I called the collection agency and was told that my fines + interest were 422.00 - I inquired about a payment plan as I wasn't trying to avoid the fines, but I certainly couldn't pull that kind of money out of my butt.
I was told that yes they had a payment plan, however I did not qualify since I was not a VA resident. I would need to pay in full. I hung up to try and come up with the funds.

The next day after exhausting all options, I called back and asked to speak to a supervisor. I was told she was out. I asked about the payment plan again as I was unable to come up with the 400+ dollars to pay in full. The lady ACTUALLY told me "Well, you could drive safely while you mail in payments, and don't get pulled over. After you complete the total fines we'll send notice to unsuspend your license". I was shocked. This lady actually was advising me to risk getting a ticket for driving on a suspended license, no registration and no insurance! My registration was due, and I needed to get insurance. And in CA you cannot get insurance without a license, and you cant get registration without insurance! I asked for the managers name and said I would call back.

The next day I get a letter from the VA dmv telling me that my license will be cancelled 9.30 at 12:01am unless I can show proof of residency. Which I can't. I don't live on VA. I now have 30 days to get this cleared up.

I call VA dmv and they tell me that the cancellation won't take effect until I get the suspension cleared up. Then I pay the reinstatement fee of $85 and they immediately cancel my license. Nice, huh?

I spend the next week trying to again come up with the funds unsuccessfully. I called and spoke to the manager, Miss West. She said that in fact I did not qualify for the payment plan and I could set up a payment plan of mailing money in but that she would not release my suspension until my fines are paid in full.. and just "for my information, it goes up .07c a day". She suggests asking a friend or employer to let me put it on their credit card. I hang up.

Now -- here's my question. I literally found out about all this less than 2 weeks ago. I am not trying to evade this. I did the crime, I should pay.
However, I need to be able to DRIVE to work to pay these fines. Why should I have to risk additional tickets and fines?

Does anyone know how I could go about getting a restricted license to drive to and from work? Everything I've read seems to say that if you have fines you must pay them first.

Any help would be appreciated.....

[Cdshiflett]

How come you didnt take care of the fine right after you were issued the summons? Most tickets are clearly marked somewhere on them what the fines would be and tell you where to send the money or where and when you should show up to court if you intend on fighting it. It' easy to figure the fines and if you can't. You call the number listed on the ticket and ask. States vary as to how they handle things. If you aren't familiar, don't assume.
Sounds like you just need to pay your fines and clear that up. Why didn't you ask if you had to re-insate your Virginia License as you no longer live here and don't need them.

[Needing Answers]

How come you didnt take care of the fine right after you were issued the summons?

Even if I had read the ticket clearly, a wreckless ticket you can't pre-pay in VA.. In CA you get issued a ticket.. you either show up or you don't. If your cop shows up you are found guilty if you are not there and MAILED a fine. No fine - your cop didn't show. I had no intention of fighting the ticket. So I figured by forwarding my mail I would receive the ticket fine and I would pay it. I never received anything.

Most tickets are clearly marked somewhere on them what the fines would be and tell you where to send the money or where and when you should show up to court if you intend on fighting it. It' easy to figure the fines and if you can't. You call the number listed on the ticket and ask. States vary as to how they handle things. If you aren't familiar, don't assume.

Honestly if I were to get the ticket today I would have read the ticket closer. At the time I was in the process of moving back to VA and 6mos pregnant, and my mother had just passed. Your right, I shouldn't have assumed it was processed the same was as CA - but I did and I don't have a time machine to go back and change that..

Sounds like you just need to pay your fines and clear that up.

I intend to pay the fines, I'm not trying to avoid them. I just can't pull $500 out of thin air. And in the mean time I need to be able to get to and from work in order to PAY the fines..

Why didn't you ask if you had to re-insate your Virginia License as you no longer live here and don't need them

I did. I was told both by CA and VA DMV that I have to reinstate to have the suspension lifted. I won't be reinstating my VA license, it will only reinstate my driving privileges. They will not life the suspension until I pay the reinstatement fee. I spoke to a manager and that was verified.

My question wasn't about what I did wrong; I understand I made a mistake assuming the states handled tickets in the same manner. My question was how I could get my license back in some "restricted form" while I get this cleared up and if anyone else had been in a similiar situation and been able to get a restricted license.

[emsgoof]

I had a similar experience with the Virginia DMV. When I moved back to MD, I turned in my VA license to the Maryland MVA (a model of inefficiency!) and got a MD license. I went to change my address a couple of years later and was told I couldn't because my VA license had been suspended! So I called VA, and was told that my license had expired and I had fines because of it. I asked why, when I had surrendered it to the Maryland MVA (still had the receipt from that). The apologized for the confusion, and said "But you still need to pay us $85 to have your license reinstated." Huh???

[TayBreez]

I heard that u have to go to the DMV and apply for a restricted license.

[kisimone]

Hello,

You will have to pay the fines that are in collection unfortunately. You will have to eat that $85, you are lucky to be paying that and not the standard $500 that they tend to dish out at the DMV. If you have current fees, go to the traffic court of the city and ask to get a hearing with the judge regarding a payment plan. This plan will allow you to make payments while driving on a restricted license. Do not listen to what anyone says just go and do it. I know some people who are still on the plan and driving and others who haven't driven in about a year because of bad information that they got over the phone or hear say. I know of a habitual drunk driver who is doing that right now. You better do like most out of towners and go back to your home state and get another state license untill you get your money right (Just kidding..or am I?) Seriously you can make payment plans I wish you the best!

[Waterboy526]

What I don't understand that if you got a "reckless driving" ticket then you are required to go to court. If you don't show up the judge will issue a bench warrant for you...and you are actually a "wanted person" until you go to court.

[Needing Answers]

Well, actually I was told when I called the Henrico County courthouse that I was not "wanted". They had forwarded my fine to a collection agency and that was the end of it. I was found guily in absentia.

I just paid the fine this week - I've been carpooling for the past few months. I was told when I first called that I would be able to reinstate immediately, however now after paying I find that not the case.

1. VA DMV now knows I live in CA and have since cancelled my VA license. So now I will have to take both the written and driven test.

2. VA DMV still demands I pay them $85 to reinstate my "driving privilage". This is BS. However I have to wait for the collection agency to forward notice that I paid to Henrico Co courthouse who will then forward to the DMV.. this will take 7-10 business days.

Then I get to go to the CA DMV and pay $27 to get my CA license.

Certainly I made an error in assuming that all states handle tickets the same, but this is very unreasonable. I asked to make payments and was told people that live outside of VA were not eligible for the "drive and pay" plan. I could certainly mail in weekly/monthly payments but they would keep my license until the full amount was paid... and I would accrue interest daily. so... 426.00 dollars later they are finally paid off. Now only another $100 to go until I have my CA license.

[bustedknee]

It appears to the VA DMV that when you got the reckless driving ticket, you simply ignored it since you knew you were moving to CA.

Now they are teaching you a lesson.

[dogwood757]

I am considering contacting the ACLU about VA's interpretation of its DMV laws. Driving is a necessity, not a privilege. My daughter lived in a "good" neighborhood. A neighbor left an old car there for 3 years without tags and the Newport News Police told her she could do nothing about it since there was no assigned parking on the street. I am sure the guy didnt insure the thing. When he did give it away, he kept driving, no tickets, no fine from DMV. I had parked a car which needed repairs a few weeks after purchase in the housing project's parking lot . I let the insurance expire. I finally decided to junk it . I didnt take the tags off because secuirty in the project would tow the car away. After a year, I got a notice that I had to prove I had insurance or pay a $500 fee. I appealed, and received another notice a week after I was to respond. I wasnt given a break, told to pay up. $500 plus 85 reinstatement fee. After calling the commisioner's secretary a couple of times, I now have to get an SR22 whatever that is and I am now on the national registry to make sure I dont get a license in another state until I reinstate in VA then transfer. I had told them I was moving. I should have turned in my license as soon as I had gotten that notice. It is a real hardship. My dad and brothers used to fix cars and always had a car or two around. It's the same in my hometown now. Those people aren't hounded about license fees, etc. VA DMV policy stinks and is unevenly applied. Money talks. If U pass it around two or three times, they let U go. On that note, I first tried to get my license, took a $20 bill and my paperwork into the Denbigh office. Was turned down because of the suspension. It was closing time. When I realized the woman kept my $20 bill, I banged on the door and noone let me in or answered. Never got my money EVEN tho I kept the ticket and could show who I was talking to and who kept my money!! Now do U understand why people go ballistic in public offices?