The Groves Report

Every month, I speak with people who cannot understand how their driver’s license could possibly be suspended. Invariably, they will wave their license under my nose and shout: “How could my license possibly be suspended? I still have it!” At times like these, I seriously consider increasing my fees in direct proportion to the magnitude and quantity of the stupid questions asked.

Our “privilege” to drive is not guaranteed by the presence of a small piece of plastic in our wallet. If the MVD computer says our license is suspended, the cop can, and certainly will, issue a citation. As I explain the power of the MVD computer, these poor souls go from defiant to disheartened in a split second. They stew for a moment and then their face brightens up as they exclaim: “Yeah… but I didn’t know it was suspended.”

Let me be blunt. WE DO NOT HAVE TO KNOW! In order for a license suspension to be effective, all MVD has to do is send notice to our last known address. The law imposes upon us, the drivers, an obligation to inform MVD when we move. We can update our new address in seconds on-line or on the phone but scores of us never do.

And while the only really stupid question is the one that never gets asked, it is extremely unwise to dash to court and plead guilty to a suspended license ticket without consulting an attorney. There are many subsections to the suspended license statute. The fines and additional suspension time vary greatly. And once you plead guilty (even if it is to the wrong subsection), sometimes, we cannot change it. And even if we can, the cost is often quite painful. So, if you, or someone you love, gets a ‘Driving on a Suspended License’ ticket, please, give us a call.