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wacoachrusso
Mar 14, 2011, 03:34 PM
Hello. Here's my deal, my PA license was suspended in April of 2010, for a total of 18 months for a DUI. My residence is still in PA, but my car is now here in New Jersey because I work out of here( I get back to PA about once a month) I was stopped in NJ today for speeding (going 39 in a 25 zone) When the police officer came up to the car, he asked me if I knew how fast I was going, and then proceeded to ask me for my insurance, license and registration. As I was giving him all my stuff, I told him that my new registration card was back in PA and I just haven't been back yet to get it, then he looked at my PA state ID and asked "Is this a state ID" I said, " Yes, my license is suspended" I told him that I don't ever drive my car, but was running late. My mistake, I know. He went back to his car, and after 15 minutes , came back, and asked me "Do you want to tell me about this insurance card?" I said " I know, it's invalid" He said he knew it, and wasn't happy! He misunderstood me when I told him my new registration card was in PA, he thought I was lying to him about meaning my insurance card was in PA. He then proceeded to give me 5 tickets, and have my car towed. He said when I get insurance, and someone to drive it, I call the station and I get my car back.The tickets were for, 1. Driving under suspension, 2. Speeding, 3. Uninsured, 4. Failure to comply with an officer, 5. Failed to have the car inspected. My questions are, Will PA find out about this? I am still under probation, Am I looking at jail time in PA? Can I just go to court, and pay the fines that they gave me without having my probation officer, and the PA DMV finding out? PLEASE HELP! Any info would be greatly appreciated

ScottGem
Mar 14, 2011, 04:01 PM
The PA DMV has probably already been informed. All states have reciprocal arrangements on these things. That's how the officer knew you were lying to him.

What will happen I can't predict.

Fr_Chuck
Mar 14, 2011, 06:34 PM
Yes, since now they will most likely either suspend the license longer but most likely revolk it. So yes PA was notified within a day or two

Next if you don't call and inform the probation officer, that is another violation, and in fact the most serious one.

Next the officer does not even have a choice, if you have no license he can not let you drive away, if the car has no valid insurance he can not allow anyone drive it away.

You also know that every day it sits, it has additional fees, there is a so many dollar a day fee added for storage ( any and every way I have ever been) Locally the charge will be about 200 for impound, 100 or so for towing, and about 15 dollars a day for storage.

wacoachrusso
Mar 14, 2011, 11:05 PM
Is there any way the probation officer will not find out? And I go to court and just pay the fines?

wacoachrusso
Mar 14, 2011, 11:06 PM
Is there any way the PO won't find out? Or, If I go to court with a great attorney and just pay the fines? Is that even possible?

ScottGem
Mar 15, 2011, 03:21 AM
I'm going to assume that no. If NJ reports it to PA, which is a very high probability, then it should get to your PO. Just paying the fines will not remove it from your record. Nor is it likely a "great" attorney can.

wacoachrusso
Apr 6, 2011, 03:36 PM
Well I had my court date in NJ. The judge came down pretty hard, and even wanted to put me in jail in NJ for 10 days. When my attorney heard that, he said he would like to withdraw our plea agreement and go to trial. The judge then by passed the jail time. She gave me an additional 1 year suspension on my license, 30 days community service, and a 1000.00 dollar fine for driving without insurance, and also gave me a 550.00 fine for driving while suspended. What I don't get is, when I got my paperwork, the only citation that was in with the paperwork was "No insurance" ticket I got. And next to that was the 1500 dollar fine, and 30 days community service notice. When I went online and looked up the driving while suspended ticket, it kept coming back to the "No insurance" ticket. My guess is that they dropped the "driving under suspension" and combined it with the "no insurance" into one ticket? Am I correct in assuming this? I still haven't notified my Probation officer yet in hopes that Penndot will not find out, in fear of losing my job. I am thinking that if they just got me for "No insurance" (that's how it's written on the ticket) Then Penndot will just send me a letter of an additional suspension on my licence. When will the info be forwarded to PennDot? And am I just wishing upon a star here?

Fr_Chuck
Apr 6, 2011, 05:17 PM
Yes it appears that way, that they did the agreement,
And depending on the state, driving with no insurance is often the more serious of the violation

wacoachrusso
Apr 6, 2011, 05:58 PM
Fr_Chuck So, since the ticket says "not insured" do you think this will be forwarded to PennDot, and if so, when? I am being told by friends and family, that since I was sentenced in NJ and fined, that all Penndot will do is add the additional year onto my suspension, and I will receive a letter from them, and that it may by pass my probation, but like I said, these are friends and family telling me this, so I am asking for some insight from someone who may know a little bit more! Thanks for all your help

Fr_Chuck
Apr 6, 2011, 06:10 PM
It is possible they will do nothing, but remember the biggest worry now, is of course that you failed to notify the PO of the new legal issue. Failure to report is a far more serious issue, than the new charge.

wacoachrusso
Apr 6, 2011, 06:14 PM
I understand that. I guess that's what I am asking. How are PO's notified, if at all?

ScottGem
Apr 6, 2011, 07:13 PM
You had an encounter with the NJ justice system. The likelihood is that it will wend its way to your PO eventually. If he finds out from the system rather than from you, it will be much worse for you.

By the way, In my opinion the judge didn't come down on you enough. I see no sign of contrition or repentance. All I see is an attempt to beat the system.

wacoachrusso
Apr 6, 2011, 07:38 PM
Oh believe me, I have learned from my stupid mistakes! I gave my car away, and am now taking cabs, busses, and walking everywhere I need to be, which I should have done in the first place! I am just afraid of losing my job, since I travel for a living, I can't afford to lose it. I know God has a plan for me, and he knows that I am sorry for the mistakes I have made, and I have made peace with him. I do appreciate all your help though :)