Question on suspended license - car titles, insurance, parking?

[justsomeguy]

What is the name of your state? Texas

Hey all, I have a couple of questions here I'm hoping someone can help me with.

I lost my license effective this week for 6 months.

My wife and I own our own business so we have decided I will not apply for the occupational license due the cost, (i was told about $1000 in all). we always go to work and the store together anyway.

I am planning on cancelling my name off our insurance policy and possibly transferring ownership of our two vehicles into her name.

ok questions.

1. Should I take my name off of our insurance policy and re-apply for it after I am able to have my license re-instated in 6 months?

2. Is there any advantage to me putting our two vehilces into my wifes name, (currently in mine) What is the process for this if it's a good idea?

3. One of our vehicles is a very large and expensive vehicle, my wife has not driven this but it advertises our company so she's going to learn. She is scared to park it. Is it legal for me to pull into my garage from my driveway, if she is fully in the driveway before I get in the drivers side? What about if we are in a parking lot and having trouble finding a space, can I pull it in for her, if we are already in the parking lot?

Thanks,

[moburkes]

I lost my license effective this week for 6 months.

Did the judge require you to carry an SR22?

I am planning on cancelling my name off our insurance policy and possibly transferring ownership of our two vehicles into her name.

You might not be able to do this. Many insurance companies require that a spouse with a license (you still have a license, its just that the status is suspended) be kept on the policy. This is because people with suspended licenses STILL drive. And, if you are required to have an SR22, the easiest way to carry it is on your insurance policy. Now, if you are not required to have an SR22, and your insurance company will allow you to be removed from the policy, that's great. Your wife will save money on her car insurance. Another option is to be excluded from the policy. This means that you will not be covered if you drive the vehicle for any reason, including emergencies. This is only an option if the SR22 is not required.

1. Should I take my name off of our insurance policy and re-apply for it after I am able to have my license re-instated in 6 months?

See above.

3. One of our vehicles is a very large and expensive vehicle, my wife has not driven this but it advertises our company so she's going to learn. She is scared to park it. Is it legal for me to pull into my garage from my driveway, if she is fully in the driveway before I get in the drivers side? What about if we are in a parking lot and having trouble finding a space, can I pull it in for her, if we are already in the parking lot?

What part of suspended don't you understand?

[justsomeguy]

Originally Posted by moburkes

Did the judge require you to carry an SR22?


You might not be able to do this. Many insurance companies require that a spouse with a license (you still have a license, its just that the status is suspended) be kept on the policy. This is because people with suspended licenses STILL drive. And, if you are required to have an SR22, the easiest way to carry it is on your insurance policy. Now, if you are not required to have an SR22, and your insurance company will allow you to be removed from the policy, that's great. Your wife will save money on her car insurance. Another option is to be excluded from the policy. This means that you will not be covered if you drive the vehicle for any reason, including emergencies. This is only an option if the SR22 is not required.

See above.



What part of suspended don't you understand?

Thanks for the help moburkes. I don't think I'm required to get an SR-22 unless I apply for an occupational drivers license. I havn't had my court date yet, it is next month.

the part about the suspended license I don't understand, is, do you need a license to operate a motor vehicle on your own private property? Basically, the only thing I'm really worried about is pulling my car into my garage, from my driveway, everything else my wife can do.

thanks again,

[moburkes]

You posted under the DUI forum, so I'm guessing that your license is suspended for a DUI. If so, then you will be required to carry an SR22 for 2 years, so you will not be able to be removed from the insurance policy.

Sure, drive in your own driveway. Then you'll be driving just to park the vehicle on the street. Then you'll be driving just down the street. Then you'll just drive....

Its just not a smart thing to do. If you are not licensed to drive, you are simply not licensed to drive. There is no home base rule.

[justsomeguy]

thanks for the info mo,

I was not aware that the SR22 was a requirement if you were not driving.

I'm sure everything will be clear after my court date.

[moburkes]

Did you get a DUI? Did you refuse the test?

[xylene]

Originally Posted by justsomeguy

1. Should I take my name off of our insurance policy and re-apply for it after I am able to have my license re-instated in 6 months?

2. Is there any advantage to me putting our two vehilces into my wifes name, (currently in mine) What is the process for this if it's a good idea?

These questions are best answered by your lawyer and most importantly your insurance proffessional.

3. One of our vehicles is a very large and expensive vehicle, my wife has not driven this but it advertises our company so she's going to learn. She is scared to park it.

Learning to park it is key skill. She will have to master her fear and acquire this skill.

Is it legal for me to pull into my garage from my driveway, if she is fully in the driveway before I get in the drivers side? What about if we are in a parking lot and having trouble finding a space, can I pull it in for her, if we are already in the parking lot?

It is not legal for you to drive without a license on public roadways, or in areas normally so accessible (such as parking lots and driveways.)

[justsomeguy]

thanks again guys,

I'll talk to my lawyer and insurance people about it.

My problem with the garage is kind of funny actually, my wife is 4'10, she has a hard time seeing up over the top of the dash very easily, she can park fine, but in our garage we have it stuffed on both sides with expensive wooeden furniture, when the car is parked perfectly only the driver can get out and has to open the door only half way. I will clean out the garage and move stuff, so she has more room, I was being lazy.

I did get a DWI a few months ago, the hearing to suspend my license was this week, I did not take the breath test. I'm not sure if I'm going to trial or not, my lawyer wants to wait until we get the tape from the stop which we have not seen yet.

No matter what happens I will never have a single drink again and drive again. I bought a breathalyzer the next day and in the last 3 months I made sure I would not even drive the next morning after being out unless I was back to 0, let alone the same night I had anything. I will never risk putting my family through anything like this again.

Whatever hardships come out of this for myself, and my family are my responsibility and only my fault.

Cleaning out the garage in the July Heat is a small price to pay for what could have been alot worse, I'll stay out of the drivers seat all together.

[moburkes]

[url]http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administration/driver_licensing_control/faq/answers_sus.htm#q1[/url]

1) A blood or breath test refusal or failure. If a person refuses or fails a blood or breath test following an arrest for driving while intoxicated, the person may receive a license suspension of 90 days up to 2 years. If the driver holds a Commercial Driver License, a breath test refusal or failure will result in an automatic one year disqualification. (Click here to access the Administrative License Revocation web page.) Texas Transportation Code Chapter 524, Texas Transportation Code Chapter 724, 37 Texas Administrative Code 17.7.
Reinstatement requirements
A reinstatement fee will be required prior to the renewal/issuance of a driver license.
2) A conviction for driving while intoxicated (DWI). The license suspension period varies by court order not to exceed two years. A conviction for driving while intoxicated under the age of 21 will result in an automatic suspension for one year. Texas Transportation Code 521.344.
NOTE: It is possible to receive a suspension for a DWI conviction AND a suspension for a blood/breath test refusal/failure arising from the same arrest.Reinstatement requirements
A reinstatement fee will be required prior to the renewal/issuance of a driver license.
Obtain proof of insurance (form SR-22) from your insurance company and submit to the Texas Dept. of Public Safety (DPS). The SR-22 is required for two years from date of conviction.
If a Repeat Offender's DWI education program has been required by the convicting court, certificate of completion must be forwarded to DPS prior to the expiration of the suspension to prevent an additional revocation period.

[justsomeguy]

thanks again mo,

It looks like on the page you linked the SR-22 is a condition of having your licesnse re-instated, or granted as an occupational, so I'm guessing, it would not be a requirement If I'm not seeking to have my insurance or driving priveledges re-instated for 6 months, I'd still need to get one at that point though.

[moburkes]

Nope, not true. Whenever you get your license reinstated (let's use 6 months, if that's what the court says), you will need to show proof that you have had an SR22 since the conviction date, not the reinstatement date. Read the underlined part again.