DMV Suspended License by Mistake Due to Another State's Error

[ws6whiteshark]

What is the name of your state? Maryland

I was pulled over yesterday afternoon coming home for no front tag, so the officer gives me a warning... but also advises me that my license is suspended, he issued two tickets and he was letting me go (wife drove the car from that point on), but could have arrested me. I asked the officer, what was the suspended license for??? He said there was an unpaid ticket in North Carolina in 2006. First of all, I wasn't even in NC in 2006. I remember getting a ticket in NC coming back from Florida in 2005, but the ticket was paid in August 2005. When I got home I pulled my bank statements and my check register file and found that the check I wrote to the NC Superior Clerk on August 30, 2005 had cleared on September 19, 2005... so somebody screwed up in NC and contacted the MD DMV saying I didn't pay!!! I just returned from the Commissioner's Office where they adivse you of your rights, etc... I asked how can I clear this up quickly since it is a mistake. The Commissioner's office clerk said to file a motion, which will take a month.

On Thursday I'm going to my bank and have them pull a copy of the cleared check and go to DMV and see if I can get this dropped. If not, I'm screwed without a driver's license for over a month until the court date and as an employee of the Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the Federal Gov't, I can't do field work until this is cleared up. Also, considering the amout of aggrivation I'm going to have to go through and time off from work (including my wife who will need to drive me), mileage, etc... is there any form of restitution? Thanks.

Scott

 

[lwpat]

You need to start with the NC DMV, not MD. Contact the court that had your license suspended and have them clear it up with the NC DMV. Then have the NC DMV provide you with a letter to take to the MD DMV.

 

[ws6whiteshark]

I wish I could remember what county or court issued the ticket. All I know is that I made the check out to NC Superior Court Clerk and mailed it in on 8/30/2005. I never received anything in the mail indicating that I had to appear in court or that a court date was assigned. Does this make sense???

 

[justalayman]

ya, it does.

who endorsed the check? there would be a county name plus bank account number and banking institution.

 

[DRTDEVL]

If you call the NC DMV, they will tell you which Court ordered the suspension.

They will even give you the phone number.

 

[ws6whiteshark]

This is getting worked out. I was able to contact the NC court and they sent over to MD DMV a receipt showing the ticket was satisfied in 2005. Now I have to get the MD State's Attorney's Office to drop the driving while suspended charges so we don't have to go to court.

 

[ws6whiteshark]

State's Attorney's Office won't talk to me about the case. This is just nuts... I even work in the criminal justice system and can't believe they would waste their time on this.

 

[ws6whiteshark]

I just received my "Right to Counsel Notice" on both of the tickets and the State's Attorney's Office still will not discuss the case with me because I'm not represented by legal counsel. I have cleared up the problem with MD DMV and with the NC Clerk of the Court's office. NC didn't understand why it was even sent to MD because their records showed payment on 9/15/05 and the ticket was satisfied. Also, MD DMV said they sent me a letter. I received no letter from DMV stating my license was suspended. If I had, I would have taken care of it immediately by showing proof the ticket was paid.

Any recommendations?

Scott

 

[ws6whiteshark]

I have my court date. How long do you think I'll be in there for this rediculous crap? "Judge, here is the endorced check from the NC Superior Clerk's office showing the ticket had been satisfied on 9/15/05." MD DMV should have checked the national registry to see if the ticket was satisfied before suspending my license... request the case be dismissed."

Any other thoughts?

 

[moburkes]

What national registry are you talking about?

 

[ws6whiteshark]

Yep. There is no "national registry" for traffic citations.

That's what the NC DMV said after I gave them my citation number. Here's what I found online:

National Driver Register (Overview)
The National Driver Register (NDR) is a computerized database of information about drivers who have had their licenses revoked or suspended, or who have been convicted of serious traffic violations such as driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs. State motor vehicle agencies provide NDR with the names of individuals who have lost their privilege or who have been convicted of a serious traffic violation. When a person applies for a driver's license the state checks to see if the name is on the NDR file. If a person has been reported to the NDR as a problem driver, the license may be denied.

I'll check my notes from my conversations with NC DMV, NC District Court Clerk's office and MD DMV, but regardless it's a moot point. Basically what it boils down to is that incompetent people not paying attention to details (NC District Court and MD DMV) causing unecessary problems for others.

Scott

 

[moburkes]

That's true, what you posted. However, only SERIOUS traffic tickets are reported. And, even then, all of them aren't reported.

 

[ws6whiteshark]

Interesting...