I have a terrible situation with the DMV of California. Can someone offer me advice?

[Larry_Brooks]

In Sept. 2006 a Beverly Hills cop gave me a ticket for not having a License Renewal Stamp on my license plate. I was told pay the ticket, get the DMV License Renewal, put the Stamp on my license plate & then go to the Bev. Hills Courthouse (L.A. Superior Court) & show them proof of all this. I did all of the above BUT I forgot to go to the Courthouse and show them proof of Renewal. Today I got a letter from a collection agency (for the L.A. Superior Court) that I now owe $806! I called these people & was told I had to appear before a judge Feb. 4th, that my license was probably revoked, a warrant is out for my arrest, & that I cannot drive legally until I see the judge! I'm terrified - I'm a low paid temp office worker with adult ADD & I really did forget to go to the Courthouse. Yes, it's my fault but... Is there ANY way to lower the $806 penalty? Can I reinstate my license before my hearing (I have to drive to go to work). And the warrant for arrest? What can I do? What do I say to the judge? Please advise me.

 

[lwpat]

Evidentally you did not do all of that since you did not pay the ticket. All you can do is to go to court and hope for a lenient judge. They may set up a payment plan.

 

[Larry_Brooks]

In response . . .

Yes, I did pay the ticket - I paid $27 online, as a DMV clerk told me I could, over the phone. I have the paper confirmation printed, plus a letter from the court saying I now owe $0.00. It seems to be the fact I never returned to the Courthouse to show that I had gotten the license sticker/paid my Renewal.

 

[Scooterdog]

One of my friends in Cal wins all his case challenging SMJ in that state. Seems to have their scam figuired out.

Why is a warrent for arrest issued? Wasn't your ticket an "infraction"? That would be either civil or administrative.


Man, take that paper work to the judge. If the judge clears this up, and agree's you are paid up, you got one hell of a lawsuit.

Have you called the court(clerk) and see what the heck the deal is? That's the door I'd be hammering on.

You can send the Debt Collectors a letter, certified, return reciept, demanding verification of debt. That will rattle a cage.

Check Cal constitution, there should be a provision barring them from putting you in jail for a debt. Also, I wonder why the court turned this over to collect and is now calling you back to court. Once the debt was sold, it became a collections problem, not a city/county/state problem.

Either you have left somethings out, or they are making some mistakes themselves. Get ahold of that court!

 

[lwpat]

CA has a combined type of system. They turn you over to a collection agent but you still have to settle everything with the court and DMV in order to get your license reinstated.