What is the name of your state? This happened in Virginia.
Ok, here's the scoop:
I am in the Army, and I recently travelled home to Tennessee. While I was there, I attempted to renew my driver's license. While this is not neccessary (license does not expire while on Active Duty, but the exp. date still shows 2001), I am relocating to Germany at the end of the year, and I don't want to run into licensing problems with the German authorities. When my number was called, I was informed that they could not renew my license because there was a "flag" on my SSN, initiated by the VA DMV.
I was given a number to call in Richmond, and was informed I needed to call the New Kent County Courthouse, as they had initiated the action. I spoke to a lady in the Clerk of Courts office, and she told me the reason I was flagged was for an outstanding fine of over $400.00! I have never even been to this place (wouldn't even know where it is, if it weren't for Mapquest), yet they said they have a citation on file from October of 1997.
Upon review of the case, i was allegedly cited for reckless driving on I-64, as well as speeding 90 in a 65 on October 10, 1997, in a green Dodge sedan. This happens to fall directly in conflict with the fact that I was deployed to Pusan, Korea for Operation Foal Eagle (a training deployment) for the entire month of October 1997, as well as the fact that I owned a Black 1973 Chevy truck at the time.. In December of 1997, I allegedly appeared to fight the ticket, claiming "not mine," lost, and appealed. The appeal was set for January 1998, but I failed to appear (as the records say, even though I have never heard of this place).
The Clerk told me that if I could find proof that I was out of the country at the time (affidavit from another Soldier deployed with me), I could mail it to them, and she would present it to the Judge for consideration. It would be fully up to the Judge's discretion as to wether or not to even re-try the case.
The name on the ticket matches mine, and the license number listed is my SSN, but the address is different, as well as the suspect's description (4" shorter, 30 lbs heavier). My driver's license number is NOT my SSN... TN issues a license number that is 8 digits long.
My dilemma is I have several options for proceeding from here. I can either:
Pay the $400 + $35 to the VA DMV for a re-instatement fee
Submit the requested documentation to the courts, and appear if the hearing is granted (about $600 in travel expenses)
Submit the requested documentation to the courts, and hire an attorney to appear for me (at whatever the going rate is $$$$$$$)
This seems to be a lose-lose situation here. No matter what I do, wether deemed innocent or guilty, I will still lose at least 1 weeks pay over it. The ticket will not affect my driving record, points, insurance, etc, as it was almost 8 years ago.
What would be the best way to proceed from here? If only there was a way to do this without losing my shirt over it... Military pay still ain't all that great!
Ok, here's the scoop:
I am in the Army, and I recently travelled home to Tennessee. While I was there, I attempted to renew my driver's license. While this is not neccessary (license does not expire while on Active Duty, but the exp. date still shows 2001), I am relocating to Germany at the end of the year, and I don't want to run into licensing problems with the German authorities. When my number was called, I was informed that they could not renew my license because there was a "flag" on my SSN, initiated by the VA DMV.
I was given a number to call in Richmond, and was informed I needed to call the New Kent County Courthouse, as they had initiated the action. I spoke to a lady in the Clerk of Courts office, and she told me the reason I was flagged was for an outstanding fine of over $400.00! I have never even been to this place (wouldn't even know where it is, if it weren't for Mapquest), yet they said they have a citation on file from October of 1997.
Upon review of the case, i was allegedly cited for reckless driving on I-64, as well as speeding 90 in a 65 on October 10, 1997, in a green Dodge sedan. This happens to fall directly in conflict with the fact that I was deployed to Pusan, Korea for Operation Foal Eagle (a training deployment) for the entire month of October 1997, as well as the fact that I owned a Black 1973 Chevy truck at the time.. In December of 1997, I allegedly appeared to fight the ticket, claiming "not mine," lost, and appealed. The appeal was set for January 1998, but I failed to appear (as the records say, even though I have never heard of this place).
The Clerk told me that if I could find proof that I was out of the country at the time (affidavit from another Soldier deployed with me), I could mail it to them, and she would present it to the Judge for consideration. It would be fully up to the Judge's discretion as to wether or not to even re-try the case.
The name on the ticket matches mine, and the license number listed is my SSN, but the address is different, as well as the suspect's description (4" shorter, 30 lbs heavier). My driver's license number is NOT my SSN... TN issues a license number that is 8 digits long.
My dilemma is I have several options for proceeding from here. I can either:
Pay the $400 + $35 to the VA DMV for a re-instatement fee
Submit the requested documentation to the courts, and appear if the hearing is granted (about $600 in travel expenses)
Submit the requested documentation to the courts, and hire an attorney to appear for me (at whatever the going rate is $$$$$$$)
This seems to be a lose-lose situation here. No matter what I do, wether deemed innocent or guilty, I will still lose at least 1 weeks pay over it. The ticket will not affect my driving record, points, insurance, etc, as it was almost 8 years ago.
What would be the best way to proceed from here? If only there was a way to do this without losing my shirt over it... Military pay still ain't all that great!
