I'll tell you one thing (on a related but slightly different topic). Be sure and keep your insurance current because the Financial Responsibility stuff is a pain. Also a good idea to keep your address current on your DL. Two years ago, I got a ticket for no insurance. My insurance had lapsed for a period of about two weeks. I was aware of it, but at the time, I was switching insurance companies and was busy and put it off too long. But, of course, I got pulled over during that time and got a ticket. My old insurance company said they'd retroactively reinstate my policy so I could get the ticket dismissed, but that required signing up for another six months and, given that they were significantly higher than the company I was switching to, I thought the cost was cheaper to just pay the ticket and switch insurance companies. I didn't know, though, that if you get a ticket for no insurance, you're subject to the state's Driver Responsibility Program (or whatever it's called) and you're subject to surcharges to the state. Because I had moved several times without updating my DL address (totally my fault), I didn't know about the program until I went to renew my license about 18 months after I got the ticket. I was informed my license had been revoked and gave me a number to call. I could never get through on the phone number, so I emailed. A couple of weeks later, they responded, telling me they had sent me a letter to the address on the DL. I never got it (my fault, of course, for not keeping my address updated like the law requires), so they agreed to send me a new letter. About a month later, I got the letter. It said I owed $260. I sent in the $260 and waited. Once the check cleared, I called the Texas DPS. I wasn't able to get through. I left a message on the first call, but I tried to get through a few more times, but I was never able. About two weeks later, the DPS calls me back. I missed the call, but they left a message telling me I had to go to Garland and pay the $100 reinstatement fee and file an SR-22. She didn't explain what the SR-22 was, but she said I could take care of all of that and renew my license in Garland. So by this point, it's Tuesday of this week. I go to Garland, wait in line for about half an hour (not too long for a DL office, really). I get to the window and they tell me that I get the SR-22 from my insurance company. So, I call the insurance company and they get that started, and I go home. Yesterday, I get the SR-22, so I go back to Garland this morning and wait another half hour or so in line. I get to the window and the lady takes my SR-22 and my $100 and then tells me that I owe another $260 (and will another $260 for the 3rd year) and my license can't be reinstated today and gives me the original 1-800 number to call. I call the 1-800 number and get through almost immediately (they must've upgraded since the first time I tried to call). They still have the wrong address even though I updated it with them when they sent the last letter (not to mention that the 2nd year's payment should've already been due when they resent me the first letter). They tell me I can pay the $260 all at once or I can pay $35 a month for 8 months. I pay the $260 (online, because they can't take cards over the phone, and I didn't have my check book with me). Now they say two days to process, 5 -7 days to reinstate. Thankfully, I don't have to go to Garland at that point (I can go to any DL office). It's my fault that it got to the point it got. I let my insurance lapse. I got the ticket. I didn't keep my address updated like the law requires. But it sure seems harder than it should be to take care of it once it's gone bad (and it's certainly difficult to get information one needs. The message from DPS didn't say I owed an additional $260. When I went Tuesday, nobody said anything about my owing another $260).
Funny story: I did that with the draft board when they called my number (44) in 1971. It took them six months to reschedule my physical and by then Congress had voted to end the draft.
Part of one of our assignments for Criminal Law last semester was to go observe a day of trial at the Crminal Ct downtown. I just happened to pick a court that was completing jury selection. Once they picked the jury from the pool, the Judge said "I really want to thank you all very much for obeying the summons for Jury Duty. Less than 11% of those called actually come and we can't do this without you. So again, thank you very much." Jury Summons don't come certified mail so there is no way the court can prove you actually received it. Your best excuse is "I didn't get a jury summons."
George W. Bush George double-u Bush George dubya Bush George Dubya Dubya Dubyas Dubious George!!!! Is that you, Dubya?
Yea, I missed court once, and then I had to go to a Bail Bond company and pay like a $500 deposit with a $50 fee. You get the money back when you show up or pay the fine. In my case I just went to the downtown court the same day, and paid the fine like I should have initially. Actually, you can pay your ticket online, in most jurisdictions. I just do that nowadays and don't bother going to court at all. Alot of times you will receive in the mail letters from lawyers hawking their services to represent you in court. They charge between $50-$75. When the fine is at most $100, I think its kind of a waste of time and money, hiring a lawyer, instead of just paying the fine. But if you don't want it on your record, then I guess, you have to either hire a lawyer, or represent yourself for defensive driving, or the best option is the deferred adjudication.
its annoying how in life some things are so complicated. a lot of times anything to do with legal issues its freaking crazy time consuming stuff.
Update: The wife found a lawyer through a friend of hers. Cost $100. There was no bond fee or anything else. Court date changed. Now we hope for it to get thrown out.
pay the bond, reset the court date a couple of times. ask for a trial by judge, and i can almost guarantee that the cop won't show up. i never did.
okay. i had to bump a thread. I have to renew my license on/before June 4th That is THREE WEEKS AWAY. I expect gifts. I'll take paypal. I don't know if you guys remember this thread. But I have to get it renewed. If I don't post in a while, that's cause I am in jail. I hate Bellaire. I'm scared to pay this ****. I have no money. I have not been pulled over in four years. So i'm looking good. Prayers please.
Hope everything goes well for you, Kam. EDIT: I took more time to read that thread, Raven Lunatic is right. Since the mail isn't registered, there's no legal proof you received that letter. This is why subpoenas from competent lawyers are delivered in person and their serious letters are at least certified. Ask them when they sent it to you and tell them that you don't remember seeing it. Focus on the warrant than the jury duty. With the JD act ignorant and don't panic. A lesson to take from this (along with taking care of those JD letters early) is that if you're dealing with lawyers or debt collectors, make them sign and accept your correspondence to give credibility on your end if the situation lands in court. That extra cost is always worth it in the end. This thread almost makes me want to settle some books I lost from the library 9 years ago. It wasn't Tropic of Cancer or the Little Engine That Could.
