Made a BIG mistake

[gbear]

I may be getting my license suspended for not having valid insurance at the time of a traffic stop. At the time the I thought I had insurance so the officer told me to fax a copy to him; turns out it expired. Can the officer still issue me a summons for this after the fact? And is worth it to obtain legal help to try not to get my license suspened? I'm in NJ.

 

[lawrat]

I am a law school graduate. What I offer is mere information, not to be construed as forming an attorney client relationship.

What the officer did by letting you fax a copy to him is give you a chance to show proof of insurance. But.....you didn't have insurance because you let it expire.

So, yes the officer can issue a ticket and summons after the fact because here he gave you a chance to show insurance, when you couldn't show proof at the time of the stop. Since you still can't show proof, he can still cite you.

So.....legal help may help if you think your license will be suspended. Usually, your license won't be suspended for not having insurance. They fine you and make you get insurance ASAP. The only conceivable way your license would be suspended is if you have other points on your record.