Car-Forums.net

[brooksone]

In Colorado, hail storms are common. So when a hailstone broke one of my tail-lights on my car, I was pulled over for a broken tail light. Seeing as I cannot escape having the worst of luck, my proof of insurance fell underneath my seat while I was trying to gather up all my information, and ultimately I had to appear in court a few months later to prove that I did, in fact, have insurance.

After that, I thought everything was taken care of, so I continued to drive without a care in the world. Well, one night I was pulled over for my same tail light being out (water collected in the light when it would rain and burn out the bulb, thanks to buying a cheap replacement off of ebay). They told me to step out of the car and handcuffed me. It wasn't until me and the police officer found out we were both from the same small town in Michigan (figures) that he let me go. All the while, he never told me why I was handcuffed. I assumed he thought I was drunk (however, I was following a friend's directions while HE was drunk, leading me to turn right 7 times in a row).

A year passes, and I move to California. When I come in to apply for a Driver's License here, they tell me my license is suspended, and that I need to call Colorado and get it sorted out with them before I can drive here.

Colorado tells me I have missed several court dates, and have a warrant out for my arrest. Yikes! When I asked why, the man on the phone scoffed at me and said it was for driving with a suspended license. (So that's why I was handcuffed.... hmm...)

Here's the fun part: He told me I need to physically go to Colorado, and when I do I have to go to the courthouse and pay some ~$2,000 so I can be seen in court and they can rule against me. During this time, they have the right to arrest me and retain me for up to 90 days. After that, they can still send me back to jail if the judge rules against me. Also, I might have to pay up to $15,000 if the court declares me guilty.

All of this, because a piece of paper fell under my seat.

Now, I don't have enough money to even take a bus to Colorado (read: I'm unemployed). And seeing as I can't get a job here in California until I can drive, I can't just wait it out until my statute of limitation passes. There is no way I can afford the court fees they are telling me I need to pay, even with a payment plan, unless I can get a driver's license in the meantime, which they're telling me I can't do.

What on earth can I do? I can't go to Colorado, I can't pay the fees, I'm willing to go to jail if I must, though I think it's ridiculous, and I can't just wait until this all blows over either!

Is there a way I can serve my sentence here? Can I apply for free legal aid and have a lawyer clear my name? Can I work through a loophole and get a license here without sorting out the Colorado thing? Nobody from the state of Colorado seems interested in helping me figure these things out. Hopefully someone here can.

Thanks!

[donahue]

If CA has a reciprocity agreement with CO, you must clear it up in CO.

You could try going to the states which Don't have an R/A with CO: Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin and Tennessee .

http://dmvanswers.com/questions/1720/Which-states-have-reciprocity-with-another

If you can be Jailed, you Will be assigned a Public Defender. This all sounds like a misunderstanding. For CO Not to tell you your license was ever suspended is their snafu, not yours. That will help in court.

[mikkel]

If CA has a reciprocity agreement with CO, you must clear it up in CO.

You could try going to the states which Don't have an R/A with CO: Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin and Tennessee .

http://dmvanswers.com/questions/1720/Which-states-have-reciprocity-with-another

If you can be Jailed, you Will be assigned a Public Defender. This all sounds like a misunderstanding. For CO Not to tell you your license was ever suspended is their snafu, not yours. That will help in court.

Yeah that s and de has Never been to CA--it is a Big state. Only the bay area and LA have a good bus system.I can imagine a lot of places in the Mojave or gold country with No buses or taxis.And AZ Always had a recip--No One went to "Douglas" and got thru a loophole. They went to TN to clear it up!

[enrique]

You can't. That's the point.

And it isn't just because you dropped a piece of paper.

[dingbang]

you have to take care of it in Colorado

[tadleigh3]

No state will issue you a linscese if it is suspended in anothor state. That si a fact sorry to bear bad news but you do need to clear this up.

These missing court dates cound fishey to me. Either we are missing something or you are. Though if it is what you said go to the legal aid office and have someone there make some calls. You may indeed have to go to colorado to make a court apperance. Might get a lawyer in colorado too to help you at this point.

You probly will have to make a court apperance. May have to pay a fine and/or court cost I can't see a judge throwing you in jail for this.

Just my humble opinion

[ethan66]

you can't serve your sentence in california for colorado. also, the warrant isn't going to disappear because of a statute of limitations. the warrant was issued within the year statute---it will be there until they serve it. not sure why you can't get a job without driving---lots of buses and taxis in california. there is no loophole.

[darce46]

The above answers are probably right for these days but there used to be two states that didn't care about suspended/revoked drivers license in another state as long as you lived there (or provide an address). Tennessee was one and I don't remember the other one. This was a few years ago and things have probably changed but I know a guy with a similar situation and he went to Arizona (some little town) provided an address for that state saying he previously lived in California never had a drivers license and they issued him one. Worth a try I guess. Things sure have gotten f..... up because driving on the road is a right because of the taxes you pay that go towards the construction of roads. Cash strapped states have determined driving on roads is a privilege therefore pay more money. What a crock of crap. Keep investigating and I hope you can find a way, other than pay a fortune and risk incarceration, to drive on "your" roads.

[tamarr62]

You can't without taking care of the original license.

You can hire an attorney to appear for you in Colorado. If you in fact had the ticket cleared by showing proof of insurance, it should be an easy matter to take care of.

And the attorney would probably cost less than $2,000 or $15,000.

[audie]

You can't without taking care of the original license.

You can hire an attorney to appear for you in Colorado. If you in fact had the ticket cleared by showing proof of insurance, it should be an easy matter to take care of.

And the attorney would probably cost less than $2,000 or $15,000.

You do what CO tells you and go to the judge there.

Either that or learn the local CA bus schedule for the rest of your life.

There is no other way around it. Warrants stay active FOREVER, and the suspension will last FOREVER. No state will issue you a license until the suspension is removed from CO.