No Proof of Insurance

What is the name of your state? Minnesota

I need help since I am scheduled to be in traffic court July 11 at 1:30pm for a pre-trial. THe situation is, I was pulled over a couple of weeks ago for speeding, I got let off with a warning for the speeding, but I was cited for no proof of insurance. I shortly thereafter realized that I did not have insurance at that time, part of the reason my insurance had lapsed is the fact that I am presently unemployed, and living on very limited funds, due to taking care of other bills (such as credit cards who harrassing me for payment) I did not have enough money to keep my insurance up to date, the day after the citation I did get payed and did get insurance, I at minimum want to keep this off my record, because I am looking for a position as a driver.

Unfortuneatley I was in court in early 2001 for a similar charge but that one was worse, and it apparently is on my record, even though I thought I had a deal that if I don't have any moving violations for six months it would stay off my record, is the record the Judge was reffering to today different then the one my insurance company and potential employers would see?

Please advise on how to handle this matter.

Brent E. Jacobson
[email]JacobsonBI@Aol.com[/email]
952-432-7740

P.S. Thank you in advance for your time and your advice.

[lwpat]

"Unfortuneatley I was in court in early 2001 for a similar charge but that one was worse, and it apparently is on my record, even though I thought I had a deal that if I don't have any moving violations for six months it would stay off my record"

And why would you think that? In court it is not what you think but what is put on the record.

"record the Judge was reffering to today different then the one my insurance company and potential employers would see? "

No

"because I am looking for a position as a driver. "

Unlikely for at least another year. You can get a copy of your MVR and determine when the 2001 citation will go off. If you don't think it should be on there then contact the court and get a copy of the court record. Mistakes do happen.

"but that one was worse"

Driving without insurance is bad enough.

"I did not have enough money to keep my insurance up to date,"

Then park the car. If you can't pay for any period of time always call the insurance company and cancel. Do not let them cancel for non-payment. This will also raise your premiums because they count you as a higher risk. It appears you were able to renew and it may have been without a lapse in coverage. Check with your agent.

In your response I believe you didn't not answer what rights and/or recourse do I have in the present matter? What do you recomend I do about the current matter?

Regarding the parking the car until I could afford to re-start the insurance, I now realize that is what I should have done, but it is a heck of a lot easier to look for a job using a car, then public transportation in the part of town where I live, I naively figured, that I would be able to get by without insurance just long enough to get a job before any trouble arose.

And why would you think that? In court it is not what you think but what is put on the record.

I made an agreement with the prosecuting attorney that they would drop the no proof of insurance if I kept "my nose clean" in otherwords had no moving violations for 6 months, which I did.

[lwpat]

"I made an agreement with the prosecuting attorney that they would drop the no proof of insurance if I kept "my nose clean" in otherwords had no moving violations for 6 months, which I did."

Then this should be in the court record. You have the right to a copy of the file and to petiton the court to have the old charge removed from your MVR. Anytime you have a "deal" always be sure it is entered in the case record and you have a copy. They are not responsible for any mistakes. Go talk to the clerk.

"In your response I believe you didn't not answer what rights and/or recourse do I have in the present matter? What do you recomend I do about the current matter?"

I assume that you have checked with your agent and coverage had lapsed. Most judges do not look favorably on driving without insurance. Since he is already aware you have a history of this I would not expect him to cut you a deal. You can always show up and try but be prepared to pay the fine or come up with a payment plan. Otherwise you may go to jail.

If you can get the other situation cleared up then get a new copy of your MVR to submit to the court.

NOTICE- The author of this post is not an attorney. The
information presented here is the result of the authors
research and thirty years experience in the legal codes,
cases and practices of the States of North and South Carolina,
and the county in which author resides and is for general
information only. Be advised the legal codes, cases, and
practices of any other state or county could vary greatly.
If you need legal advice contact an attorney.