Suspension After Moving To Another State

[TRS1964]

What is the name of your state? MA/CT

I lived in MA and had a valid driver's license there. Last year, I moved to CT and turned in my MA license when I got a CT one.

Last month, I was stopped in MA for an allegedly loud exhaust. The officer gave me a ticket for the exhaust and also for mgl 90-23 Operation of motor vehicle after suspension or revocation of license.

I never received notification of the suspension since I moved to CT. When I got my CT license, they had to make sure I had nothing outstanding at the time, and I didn't. I received my CT license with no problems. Apparently, the MA suspension occurred sometime after I received my CT license, but I never heard anything about from either MA or CT.

Now the ticket that I received had my name and CT address, but the driver's license number is my OLD MA number. So essentially, the officer mixed and matched information on the ticket.

The instructions on the ticket were to mail it in within 4 days to the court on the ticket to receive notification of a court date. I mailed in the ticket to the court in MA, but have yet to receive anything from the court. My CT address is clearly on the ticket, and also on the envelope as my return address.

If they are proceeding with this whole matter while using my old MA driver's license and my old MA address, and sending nothing to me in CT at the address where I now live, what is my liability here? Can I move to dismiss the whole matter because of there administrative ineptitude? Does the fact that the ticket issued to me had incorrect information on it help me in any way?

If they have set a date in court and I never receive notification because they don't send it to me at my CT address, what happens if I miss the date because I don't know when or where they want me?What is the name of your state?

 

[The Occultist]

I highly recommend remaining very proactive in this. At LEAST once a week, you should continue to contact the court that his jurisdiction in this matter to double-check whether or not you have a court date scheduled that a notice for which may not have been sent out to you.

 

[TRS1964]

OK, I have A Date

Let's say that I indeed have a date. Are you saying I go to court on that date even though they never notified me by mail? I just show up? Then what?

 

[The Occultist]

My guess is you should have no problem beating the "suspended" license charge once you explain to the judge what's going on, and you are able to provide your valid CT license. Please make sure you state everything matter-of-factly, without emotion, and certainly without any sense of arrogance.

My guess is you are guilty of the exhaust charge. If you fix the problem before your court date, and bring proof of it to court with you, there is a chance you may see some leniency in the form of the reduction of the fine.

 

[The Occultist]

Haha sorry Curt, I was just giving OP the benefit of the doubt and figuring maybe the officer was just confused about what he looked at and that there really isn't a suspension issue. Always worth a shot!

 

[TRS1964]

Please Read Again

I lived in MA and had a valid driver's license there. Last year, I moved to CT and turned in my MA license when I got a CT one.

I never received notification of the suspension since I moved to CT. When I got my CT license, they had to make sure I had nothing outstanding at the time, and I didn't. I received my CT license with no problems. Apparently, the MA suspension occurred sometime after I received my CT license, but I never heard anything about from either MA or CT.

When I got my CT license, my MA license was still good.

To this day, I've never received anything from CT saying there is a problem. My CT license is still good.

 

[TRS1964]

OK, This Is How I Will Proceed

I live in CT and have no intention to go to MA for anything.

I never received anything in the mail from MA. I don't know what's going on. In fact, I have forgotten about the whole thing since I am busy living my life in CT.

Meanwhile, MA has set a court date for me, even though they never contacted me. The date comes and goes and I wasn't there because I never heard anything from MA since the day I sent the ticket back to them, as per their instructions.

What happens next?