Suspended license

[cindygia]

I live in California. The Superior Court in my county placed a hold on my driver's license because I had two delinquent citations. One in the amount of $769, the other in the amount of $481. Yesterday, I paid the fine in the amount of $769 and I petitioned the court to accept a money order in the amount of $181 (which was the original amount of the fine) and waive the collection amount. If approved, the Court will release the hold and I can get my driver's license.

The Court clerk told me that it will be 130 to 170 days before I will get an answer from the Court. My question is this: Can they wait so long to give me an answer. According to the Court's time line that would mean a least 3 to 6 months before I can get my license. Is that legal? Is it fair to make me wait that long? I feel like I am being punished because I did not pay my fines on time and because of hardship I have asked that the smaller amount of the two citations be reduced.

Please advise

 

[seniorjudge]

Q: The Court clerk told me that it will be 130 to 170 days before I will get an answer from the Court. My question is this: Can they wait so long to give me an answer. According to the Court's time line that would mean a least 3 to 6 months before I can get my license. Is that legal?

A: Yes.



Q: Is it fair to make me wait that long?

A: No.



Q: I feel like I am being punished because I did not pay my fines on time....

A: Your feeling is correct.

 

[calalily]

Yes it is legal. You are waiting to see if the petition for the smaller amount is granted. If it is not then you still won't get your license until it is paid in full. Is it fair? Unfortunately you are the one who didn't pay the fines in a timely manner and yes you are being punished with higher fines with the added late fees. The wait time isn't punishment, it's the fact that you are not the only petitioner of the court and they have to process petitions in order.

 

[lwpat]

Courts do not like it when you ignore them. If you had appeared when you were supposed to, they may have reduced the fines or you might have gotten lucky with a dismissal. Most courts will work out a payment schedule if you do not have the full amount. Then you could have avoided the suspension. You could also have asked for a continuance or done a TBD to give you time to raise the money. Now you will have to pay another fine to the DOT to reinstate your license and pay much higher insurance bills for the next three years.

You caused your own problems by speeding and then ignoring the court. You will not get much sympathy from anyone, especially the court since you have just made their job harder.