So, After Like Four Years...

[Koury]

I am finally a legal driver again.

My license was suspended like three and a half years ago because I was driving five over the limit on my way to work. I forgot about it and next time I was pulled over (for my tabs being expired) on my way to work again and I was told my license was suspended due to failure to pay. They impounded my car and I ended up having to give it up since it was a Friday, meaning to get it back that day meant I had to pay triple costs for it being after their hours. Or I could wait til Monday and pay the same amount since it would have been three days impounded.

Anyway, I don't have the money for that, so I give it to them before I go into (more) debt from that.

Life keeps happening, I get a new (nicer) car and a decent job and begin paying down my ticket debt (which is sitting around like $6000 at this point) and I'm a mostly legal driver (no insurance, but I'm paying so much per month on my tickets that thats not an option, and I have to drive to work.)

But I'm a good driver and there is no issues until I end up getting laid off. I miss my payments (cuz, you know, no job) and they resuspend my license. Well, no money is bad. I end up getting evicted, which is pretty sucky.

Well, I do what I can over the next two or so years, living with various family members, doing whatever to try and get myself on track but I fall further behind due to being pulled over about once a year (never for bad driving, always for a headlight or blinker being out or (again) tabs being expired) and so I have my tickets, which were paid down to about $1000 left, go up higher and higher.

I do manage to avoid jailtime, which is nice. I always got my Driving With License Suspended 3rd Degree dropped to Driving With Invalid Liscense. Plus no insurance, of course (which is a $650 ticket here).

Anyway, even though I get a job, I can't get my license back because the collection agency won't release my license until its paid in full. I call them and bug them all the time, but they never just let me do another payment plan until finally this month, after bugging them for over a year, get them to allow me to start another payment plan. I have to pay 40% upfront, but whatever. I scrape the money up (that was about $600) and get that started. I go to all the opther places I owe money too (different courts in different cities, and the collection agencies they sell the debt to) and get all my crap on plans.

Today, I go down to the Dept. of Licensing, expecting to have to retake my driving test (since I was not only suspended forever, but also my license expired back in 2009 and I couldn't renew it due to it being suspended.) and get told I don't need to, I just need $100. I only had $60, since taking the test only costs $20, so I go and collect the last bit and get back to the DoL and finally (finally) get this:

Spoiler

Show

So yeah. Many years, and many dollars later, I can drive again. Mostly. I gotta wait until Monday to get my cars tabs renewed, but yeah. Excited.

[Syka]

Yay, you're an organ donor!

Also, good job on getting the license back. :) Where ya going first?

[Koury]

Yay, you're an organ donor!

If I die, I'm pretty sure I won't be needing my [organ].

Also, good job on getting the license back. :) Where ya going first?

Well, nowhere til Monday since I don't have a (legal to drive) vehicle, but yeah, I don't know. Probably to work, mostly. Still have that, uh, housing problem. Thats next on my list of things to fix.

[factotum]

So you've been driving unlicensed and without insurance for the past three years or so? Sorry, but I find that totally reprehensible behaviour. What would have happened if you'd crashed into someone during that time? Doesn't matter how good a driver you are, everyone makes mistakes now and again!

[Koury]

So you've been driving unlicensed and without insurance for the past three years or so? Sorry, but I find that totally reprehensible behaviour. What would have happened if you'd crashed into someone during that time? Doesn't matter how good a driver you are, everyone makes mistakes now and again!

Then I'd owe more money. Relying on others for rides can only get me so far and city buses often do not run early enough for me to make it to work (Weekends being the biggest offender here).

I needed to be able to get to work. It was a gamble I simply had no choice but to take.

[grimbold]

i feel for you koury
i hate having to read sad stories like this about minor screw ups messing up your life
once when i was small my grandmother got charge 500$ for parking in the wrong spot in a walmart parking lot that was being repainted

[Koury]

Ouch, thats pretty uncool.

I'm just glad that now (well, Monday), I can drive again without risking jailtime. Plus I get to stop hearing people condemn me for being poor.

Still poor, mind you, I just hear less about it.

[grimbold]

Ouch, thats pretty uncool.

I'm just glad that now (well, Monday), I can drive again without risking jailtime. Plus I get to stop hearing people condemn me for being poor.

Still poor, mind you, I just hear less about it.

ahh the misery of poverty
people in my social circle tease me for having no money

[LCR]

Then I'd owe more money.

The other person involved in the crash would also be left with their damages to cover, just because you had to drive without insurance.
I can see why you did it, but nevertheless, you acted very irresponsibly. Given your record you should be lucky they'd let you have your licence back at all.

[Pika...]

That was a pretty sad story. Your luck was on my level of bad.

Well, congrats on finally getting things together! You clearly wanted to, fighting for payment plans and trying hard to pay your stuff off. I feel that shows determination and character.

However, I agree driving without insurance risked others as well.

[LCR]

. I feel that shows determination and character.

Driving without a licence for three and a half years clearly does not, though.

[Pika...]

Driving without a licence for three and a half years clearly does not, though.

Yeah, I missed that part, so as I read the thread I edited my posted.

[AtlanteanTroll]

So you've been driving unlicensed and without insurance for the past three years or so? Sorry, but I find that totally reprehensible behaviour. What would have happened if you'd crashed into someone during that time? Doesn't matter how good a driver you are, everyone makes mistakes now and again!

The other person involved in the crash would also be left with their damages to cover, just because you had to drive without insurance.
I can see why you did it, but nevertheless, you acted very irresponsibly. Given your record you should be lucky they'd let you have your licence back at all.

I'm in this camp. Bus Passes aren't that expensive.

[SMEE]

The Rainbow Mod: Thread locked for review.