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Got letter for DMV hearing to suspend license for being over points 2 years ago HELP

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mousears77

Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? State of Colorado. Received a letter Jan 6, 2018 from the DMV for a phone hearing to suspend my license for being over points. My MVR has never shown me to be over points. I had a DWAI Feb 17, 2016 which gave me 8 point but it took a year to go to court, not Trial, just court. Had 2 Public Defenders who just kept NOT defending me and getting facts wrong and had to fire the first one and the second one was just as bad. The second one was insistent that I was driving with an invalid or suspended license and had me pull my MVR and there was no DWAI on it and I had some tickets, nothing bad, speeding for 1 point, a careless for 2 points from a hit and run (someone hit me) and left and I tried to move off the road and my tire blew and I hit a fence, following too closely for 4.

The DWAI was closed and it was 8 points as of Feb 13, 2017 and it took until Nov, 2017 for it to show on my MVR and during that time, most of all of the other tickets/points had fallen off. I had renewed my driver's license, my plates and my insurance twice and got my MVR 4 times. I thought it was over until I just got this letter and the DWAI just barely got on there and the points for it will fall off in about 4 weeks so it barely gets on there and will be falling off and leave me with 1 point and then in 4 months I will have 0 points. In the meantime, I have a hearing this Thursday and will be getting my license suspended because it took so long to get to the DMV. Odd thing also is my original ticket was for a DUI and it says 12 points. At that time they did not revoke my license even though the ticket says 12 points and they had the express consent since they took blood. So that also baffles me.

A ticket, even if it was a summons that says 12 points would automatically revoke my license would it not since they put the number of points on it??? I was not put in jail, I was released after given the ticket to my mother to go home after being at the station for an hour. I know they did not know the results but they did put the charge on the ticket, they did not check the box for penalty assessment, just summons and wrote it for a DUI/DUID and assessed 12 points on the ticket. Shouldn't they have taken my license at that point since they already had my Driving Record and number of points and 12 automatically revokes it and so does a DUI. That part I also do not understand. I'm glad they didn't but don't understand.

I will need to see if I can get a provisional license as I am the sole provider for my children and need to get them to and from school, counseling, doctor, store, counseling for myself, my dr. appointments and their dad lives 4 hours away and in the service and I have no friends or other family to help. I am just so confused and it's so wrong that it took that long and it never even was on my Driving Record the whole time until it's about to come off. I also was finding conflicting information that states in some places it goes from the conviction date for a DWAI and that's when the points "date" starts and then looks back from that date and go back from there for the 12 month and 24 month time period.

I don't know which one is correct. If it's that, I definately am and never was over. If it's the other way, I was over by 2 points for 3 weeks. I have not received any tickets in the last 2 years, and have never had any other DWAIs, and this one was not alcohol related and my court doc states a BAC of 0 as it was a prescription medication. I am disabled and the officer's mistook my disability for being under the influence. Either way, the whole thing is a mess. I don't know which is the correct answer, do they count the points on the violation date and then go back 12 and 24 months back from there or is it with a DWAI from the convication date and go from there? I found while searching under the statute on the Hearing letter I received which are cited at the bottom... The statute on the letter is CRS 42-2-127...It's just so sad as in 3 weeks, I will have just 1 point.....

It shouldn't take so long to get to the DMV. If we don't get our tickets paid in time, we get penalized. It just doesn't seem right and I have been watching my MVR and it never showed ever that I was over points. I never would have known had I not received that letter 2 years later. Can anyone help answer which way is correct as far as the violation date or conviction date when referring to the statute that is on the letter and the citations they refer to below??? Also, how to handle this for my hearing, which is over the phone, and if anyone has been in a similar situation and an idea of how long I may be suspended for and how it may affect my insurance? I'm supposed to renew my insurance April 26th, and they already have the DWAI on there and barely raised my rate $20 last October. I don't need an SR-22 or interlock etc. as it's not being suspended or revoked due to the DWAI. Just points.


The department is authorized to suspend
the driver's license of any person who has
been "convicted" of traffic violations result-
ing in the accumulation of excessive points,
but points cannot be assessed until after "con-
viction" for such traffic violations. Jackson v.
Dept of Rev., 791 P.2d 1206 (Colo. App. 1990).

and I found this...

The date of conviction is the decisive date
from which the accumulated points are to be
counted. Markham v. Theobald, 152 Colo. 540,
383 P.2d 791 (1963).

Tickets in Order
4-21-15 4 pts Violation Date (Fell off 4-21-17) Conviction Date 5-15-2015
9-25-15 2 pts Violation Date (Fell off 9-25-17) Conviction Date 10-8-2015 but was an accident so goes by violation date, hit n run, i got hit but then hit a fence cuz tire blew
2-17-16 8 pts Violation Date, Conviction Date 2-13-2017 ( NEVER SHOWN ON MVR UNTIL OCT/NOV 2017) but I didn't see it until 1-8-2018 after receiving the letter and insurance renewed and never said anything as I even added more coverage) (Falls off 2-17-18)
4-26-16 1 pt Violation Date (Falls off 4-26-18) Conviction Date 8-19-2016
Currently I have 9 points......according to MVR 1-8-2018

Can have 11 in 12 months if hit 12 get suspended
17 in 24 months, if hit 18 get suspended

I know this is long but I hope you can help me so I know what I'm dealing with for my hearing and what I should and should not say. I know I need to be extremely respectful and I definately need a provisional license and it will just be a few weeks and I will have just 1 point. I have no one else to get my children to school and I don't want to blow this but I'm lost in this process and need help to understand it. The internet is giving so many different responses and I cannot get any attorneys to call me back at all. I've called over 20 and posted on at least 17 sites with no responses. Both long and short descriptions. Please help.:confused:
 


adjusterjack

Senior Member
I didn't read the whole thing.

So I'll cut to the chase.

That you don't see the violations on any report that you get doesn't mean that they aren't on the state's records.

You can find out more at the phone hearing or hire an attorney to handle it.
 

Just Blue

Senior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? State of Colorado. Received a letter Jan 6, 2018 from the DMV for a phone hearing to suspend my license for being over points. My MVR has never shown me to be over points. I had a DWAI Feb 17, 2016 which gave me 8 point but it took a year to go to court, not Trial, just court. Had 2 Public Defenders who just kept NOT defending me and getting facts wrong and had to fire the first one and the second one was just as bad. The second one was insistent that I was driving with an invalid or suspended license and had me pull my MVR and there was no DWAI on it and I had some tickets, nothing bad, speeding for 1 point, a careless for 2 points from a hit and run (someone hit me) and left and I tried to move off the road and my tire blew and I hit a fence, following too closely for 4.

The DWAI was closed and it was 8 points as of Feb 13, 2017 and it took until Nov, 2017 for it to show on my MVR and during that time, most of all of the other tickets/points had fallen off. I had renewed my driver's license, my plates and my insurance twice and got my MVR 4 times. I thought it was over until I just got this letter and the DWAI just barely got on there and the points for it will fall off in about 4 weeks so it barely gets on there and will be falling off and leave me with 1 point and then in 4 months I will have 0 points. In the meantime, I have a hearing this Thursday and will be getting my license suspended because it took so long to get to the DMV. Odd thing also is my original ticket was for a DUI and it says 12 points. At that time they did not revoke my license even though the ticket says 12 points and they had the express consent since they took blood. So that also baffles me.

A ticket, even if it was a summons that says 12 points would automatically revoke my license would it not since they put the number of points on it??? I was not put in jail, I was released after given the ticket to my mother to go home after being at the station for an hour. I know they did not know the results but they did put the charge on the ticket, they did not check the box for penalty assessment, just summons and wrote it for a DUI/DUID and assessed 12 points on the ticket. Shouldn't they have taken my license at that point since they already had my Driving Record and number of points and 12 automatically revokes it and so does a DUI. That part I also do not understand. I'm glad they didn't but don't understand.

I will need to see if I can get a provisional license as I am the sole provider for my children and need to get them to and from school, counseling, doctor, store, counseling for myself, my dr. appointments and their dad lives 4 hours away and in the service and I have no friends or other family to help. I am just so confused and it's so wrong that it took that long and it never even was on my Driving Record the whole time until it's about to come off. I also was finding conflicting information that states in some places it goes from the conviction date for a DWAI and that's when the points "date" starts and then looks back from that date and go back from there for the 12 month and 24 month time period.

I don't know which one is correct. If it's that, I definately am and never was over. If it's the other way, I was over by 2 points for 3 weeks. I have not received any tickets in the last 2 years, and have never had any other DWAIs, and this one was not alcohol related and my court doc states a BAC of 0 as it was a prescription medication. I am disabled and the officer's mistook my disability for being under the influence. Either way, the whole thing is a mess. I don't know which is the correct answer, do they count the points on the violation date and then go back 12 and 24 months back from there or is it with a DWAI from the convication date and go from there? I found while searching under the statute on the Hearing letter I received which are cited at the bottom... The statute on the letter is CRS 42-2-127...It's just so sad as in 3 weeks, I will have just 1 point.....

It shouldn't take so long to get to the DMV. If we don't get our tickets paid in time, we get penalized. It just doesn't seem right and I have been watching my MVR and it never showed ever that I was over points. I never would have known had I not received that letter 2 years later. Can anyone help answer which way is correct as far as the violation date or conviction date when referring to the statute that is on the letter and the citations they refer to below??? Also, how to handle this for my hearing, which is over the phone, and if anyone has been in a similar situation and an idea of how long I may be suspended for and how it may affect my insurance? I'm supposed to renew my insurance April 26th, and they already have the DWAI on there and barely raised my rate $20 last October. I don't need an SR-22 or interlock etc. as it's not being suspended or revoked due to the DWAI. Just points.


The department is authorized to suspend
the driver's license of any person who has
been "convicted" of traffic violations result-
ing in the accumulation of excessive points,
but points cannot be assessed until after "con-
viction" for such traffic violations. Jackson v.
Dept of Rev., 791 P.2d 1206 (Colo. App. 1990).

and I found this...

The date of conviction is the decisive date
from which the accumulated points are to be
counted. Markham v. Theobald, 152 Colo. 540,
383 P.2d 791 (1963).

Tickets in Order
4-21-15 4 pts Violation Date (Fell off 4-21-17) Conviction Date 5-15-2015
9-25-15 2 pts Violation Date (Fell off 9-25-17) Conviction Date 10-8-2015 but was an accident so goes by violation date, hit n run, i got hit but then hit a fence cuz tire blew
2-17-16 8 pts Violation Date, Conviction Date 2-13-2017 ( NEVER SHOWN ON MVR UNTIL OCT/NOV 2017) but I didn't see it until 1-8-2018 after receiving the letter and insurance renewed and never said anything as I even added more coverage) (Falls off 2-17-18)
4-26-16 1 pt Violation Date (Falls off 4-26-18) Conviction Date 8-19-2016
Currently I have 9 points......according to MVR 1-8-2018

Can have 11 in 12 months if hit 12 get suspended
17 in 24 months, if hit 18 get suspended

I know this is long but I hope you can help me so I know what I'm dealing with for my hearing and what I should and should not say. I know I need to be extremely respectful and I definately need a provisional license and it will just be a few weeks and I will have just 1 point. I have no one else to get my children to school and I don't want to blow this but I'm lost in this process and need help to understand it. The internet is giving so many different responses and I cannot get any attorneys to call me back at all. I've called over 20 and posted on at least 17 sites with no responses. Both long and short descriptions. Please help.:confused:

Frankly some people are just too irresponsible to drive. You are one of them.
 

xylene

Senior Member
Your driving privledge is valuable, hire a lawyer to protect it.

This is not a DIY project.

ALSO: It sure seems like that you were over.
 

mousears77

Junior Member
UPDATE I did try to consult attorneys and also the DMV Hearing Office

I'm quite taken aback that when people are on here are trying to get help from others and no matter the situation, and we just have a short glimpse into other peoples situations without the full pictures and some are here to really try to give advice which is why this forum is here. Others it saddens me that they have to play judge and jury and post things that are hurtful and spiteful whenn they don't have the full picture. My post was quite long but I also needed to try to get as much info as I could as I have been calling multiple attorneys and everyone is so backed up and the letter I received was so delayed due to the holiday. I can't even get a consultation.

I have posted everywhere I can. I have 3 to 4 hour hold times for the DMV and I have called the hearing office to try to get some information from them as well. I'm very confused and I guess I just have to have my phone hearing and figure out where the issue is and work from there. The best part is that it has nothing to do with the DWAI, it has something to do with being over points somewhere along the lines. The other good news is that I have had no tickets in 2 years and that is a plus and I'm not a habitual offender. The DWAI really wasn't a DWAI and the BAC was 0. Was a very odd situation and was cornered into something and won't go into details but it is what it is and I definately am going to just take responsibility for everything, and hope for the best.

The lady at the hearing office stated they may just suspend my license for a day, not at all, or maybe just a week since I have had no tickets in pretty much 2 years and when I was over points, it was for about 3 weeks, and one is wrong and should be 2 points vs 4 and one of the Careless Driving was due to a hit and run where a driver hit me and took off and I tried to get my car out of the way of traffic in the middle of the dark, no wireless service and no working lights and a tire blew and caused me to hit a fence and was given a 2 point ticket and I found the ticket and the date posted actually was paid in time for it to only be 1 point so I may not have ever been over at all. It's just myself and the hearing officer and she told me to fax in all that info to her, which I did and then it's just me and the hearing officer on Thursday and I'll just hope for the best. I'm hoping it's just all a mix up, as she says that's why they do have these and talk through them and hopefully I won't have to worry about it. Worst case, since I have had no tickets in 2 years and nothing habitual, they may not even suspend it at all, or just for a day or a week and then I'm back at 0 points since they are always ongoing, never removed from your record, they are always on there and looking at 12 months and 24 months at all times. Going from your most recent and back.

Please don't post things like people are irresponsible and judge them without having the full picture. Even if they are, people make mistakes and are on this forum looking for guidance. They don't need to be criticized. It takes courage to seek help and ask for advice, even if they did the wrong thing.

thank you to those who are willing to help those who have made mistakes and try to guide them in any way you can. We all appreciate it....it already hurts to be in a situation you don't want to be in, didn't mean to get in, got there by mistake, or even on purpose and are seeking help We are not all deadbeats and just trying to ask for help means we are seeking to hopefully correct our wrongs. If not, we would not even ask and just say to ourselves whatever and let it be and not be worrying about it like the people on here who obviously care and ARE worrying or would just let it go.
 

HighwayMan

Super Secret Senior Member
You're posts are way too long and full of irrelevant information. I'll bet many here are like me and not even reading these novels.
 

FlyingRon

Senior Member
That last novel didn't even have a question, just a continual rant about how life has treated you unfair and the DMV has lousy customer service.

How unfair the convictions were aren't going to be meaningful at the suspension hearing. The only thing that matters was DID you accumulate the stated convictions in the stated time.

By your own admision you were over the limit. Once you hit the limit the suspension is automatic and it doesn't just go away because the points drop down even a day later to less than the suspension threshold. You had 14 points between April 1 2015 and Apr 1 2016.

The operative date is the DATE OF VIOLATION under CRS 42-2-127. You actually have to read the full appellate descriptions. If you had bothered to do that rather than grasping at straws, you'll see that the case was decided in 1963 and references a statute section that no longer exists. The decision that the points in that case come from date of conviction is based on the plain statutory wording in the 1953 statute that says "convicted."

Well guess what, the legislature changed the law. The law that applies to you is not the law that intreptation is based on. Where as the old law says "convicted of" by itself (so the intent has to be that). The new law says "The time periods provided in subsection (1) of this section for the accumulation of points shall be based on the date of violation, but points shall not be assessed until after conviction for any such traffic violation." This eliminated the ambiguity in Markham.

I'm not seeing any way out of this, but you're free to consult an attorney.
 

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