Tickets in different states

[rchadwickm]

I had a reckless driving ticket in Tennessee a few months ago. After the court appearance, I was let off with 6 month probation and driving school, understanding that I couldn't receive another moving violation during the probation period. I have since moved to Florida where I have started my marriage and new employment. Recently I received a ticket for improper U-turn. I have the option to attend driving school for my u-turn violation. I have had a clean driving record for the last 6 years.
Can I attend driving school for both of these tickets? If I take driving school in Florida, does it eliminate my ability to take driving school in Tennessee for the reckless driving ticket? I don't want the reckless driving to be on my record, can i avoid this?

[rchadwickm]

Additionally...is Tennessee privy to my driving record from Florida and vice versa. If I performed driving school for both incidents each for different states, would each state be aware of the other?
Sounds like I'm trying to find a way to beat the system, but i guess it's part of human nature....

[poppakeith]

Originally Posted by rchadwickm

Additionally...is Tennessee privy to my driving record from Florida and vice versa. If I performed driving school for both incidents each for different states, would each state be aware of the other?
Sounds like I'm trying to find a way to beat the system, but i guess it's part of human nature....

Systems are seldom beat by defendants, but are frequently beat by sloppiness on the inside. While states will freely exchange information, when another state requests it, they are seperate in what piece of flesh they seek from you, and there is no need for you to actively or by neglect cause a cooperation between them. You should get a lawyer, of course. Short of that, keep the two citations as seperated as you can. If each state wants (or will allow) driving school for you, that would be wonderful. Maybe at least one will, and that's semi-wonderful. Whatever you do, don't be slow or sloppy with tending to requirements under each citation. That way the two states will not likely find any reason to compare notes with eachother, and decide you are a bad boy who should not get any slack at all. Stay human. It's all we have to work with.

[rchadwickm]

Further clarification on my situation, if any of this makes a difference. I received my reckless driving charge when i was a resident of Tennessee. I was given 6 mo. probation period. I moved to Florida a few weeks later, obtained a Florida Driver's License with a "safe driver" qualification affixed to it. I then received my u-turn ticket in Florida recently during my probation period. In both cases I was a resident of the state in which I received a ticket.
Am I correct to understand that since I was resident of each state, then in each situation neither state would request my driving history from the other?- as I would not have received an "out of state" ticket that might be subject to the "Driver's License Compact" or the "Non-Resident Violator Compact?"

I need to make a decision on what to do by tomorrow. Please, any addiitonal help with be very appreciated. Thanks for the help so far.

[poppakeith]

Originally Posted by rchadwickm

Further clarification on my situation, if any of this makes a difference. ....
I need to make a decision on what to do by tomorrow. Please, any addiitonal help with be very appreciated. Thanks for the help so far.

Wanting the highest level of confidence in this matter, Internet would be the wrong place to seek it. You'd want a lawyer. There is always some possibility a judge will ask you questions about your driving record or past judgements. That would make for a sticky situation. Fudging when you answer a direct question makes a lot of judges disinclined to favor your agenda in his court. On the brighter side, judges usually just want to get through the proceedure in the shortest amount of time, and may not notice you are a freshly transplanted resident of his state.....may not be inspired to ask (embarassing) questions which would prolong his involvement in the one case. You are not required to volunteer anything self-incriminating. There are just too many "if's" for folks here to calm your worries, but you may draw some solace from conceiving that the previous violation was of Tennessee law, and the probation was not conceived and affixed under Florida law or by its courts. As a layman, linking up the two state systems, discovering what connection may exist in hard to read law books, for a Florida judge, is not really your job.

[rchadwickm]

For those that have read my situation:
I spoke with the county clerk in Florida and was informed that if I took driving school 2x in one year, then my Florida license would be temporily suspended as there is a limit to how often it can be done. Since my License Info is required for defensive driving class, all reports of my class completion would be kicked back to the state. Don't know how accurate that is, but I'll go with it.
I've contacted a lawyer in Florida to flesh out my options. It appears that now I have one choice which is to fight the Florida ticket. I have no problem doing so, as I didn't see the no u-turn sign. I was coming from a strip mall, drove across 2 lanes and made a turn at a break in the median. From my angle of entry, there was hardly a way to see the sign - as it was set 10 -15 yards in front of the turn- oh well, everyone's always innocent, I guess...but the ole' "I didn't see it" tactic is destined for failure.
Thanks for the help, I'll let everyone know how it turns out