Questions about getting pulled over.

[..*JDM Hatch*..]

I was driving downtown and had a cop pull up behind me. Sure enough he ran my plate and apparently my licence has been suspended. I didn't have any knowledge of this until the officer said that i was being pulled over due to a suspension. My car has been impounded for 30 days, and also revived a ticket for driving while unauthorized, which is an automatic court date, another for having possession of a suspended drivers license which is also an automatic court date.

I asked the police officer if i should have been aware of my suspension, he replied that i should have got a registered letter in the mail that i would have had to sign for. I have had nothing come in the mail, nor had to sign for anything in like over 2 years.

I am just wondering what i am supposed to do in this situation?

TIA.

[sr20s14zenki]

How do you have that many tickets but not know that you are suspended?

Ive been in the same boat, 3 suspensions in my younger years due to demerits, but its not like i didnt see it coming. What...you thought you could just get unlimited tickets?


What do you do? Go to court, take it in the ass, and reform your driving habits.

[..*JDM Hatch*..]

Originally posted by sr20s14zenki
How do you have that many tickets but not know that you are suspended?

Ive been in the same boat, 3 suspensions in my younger years due to demerits, but its not like i didnt see it coming. What...you thought you could just get unlimited tickets?


What do you do? Go to court, take it in the ass, and reform your driving habits.

I know that i have had other tickets, the last letter i have got in the mail was over a year and a half ago saying that i was at 3 demerits and i need to watch how i drive. I never got anything in the mail or knew in any way that my license was suspended.

[revelations]

Originally posted by ..*JDM Hatch*..
I was driving downtown and had a cop pull up behind me. Sure enough he ran my plate and apparently my licence has been suspended. I didn't have any knowledge of this until the officer said that i was being pulled over due to a suspension. My car has been impounded for 30 days, and also revived a ticket for driving while unauthorized, which is an automatic court date, another for having possession of a suspended drivers license which is also an automatic court date.

I asked the police officer if i should have been aware of my suspension, he replied that i should have got a registered letter in the mail that i would have had to sign for. I have had nothing come in the mail, nor had to sign for anything in like over 2 years.

I am just wondering what i am supposed to do in this situation?

TIA.

Have you moved around the past few years?

Are there phone numbers on the tickets that you can call for an explanation?

[sr20s14zenki]

Originally posted by ..*JDM Hatch*..

I know that i have had other tickets, the last letter i have got in the mail was over a year and a half ago saying that i was at 3 demerits and i need to watch how i drive. I never got anything in the mail or knew in any way that my license was suspended.

They don't usually fuck up and not send things out. Registered letters are serious business.

Regardless of weather or not the letter was sent, lets just say it was forgotten...did you still get another ticket to kill those last 3? Obviously yes....so you should have known...
Aaaand thats what the judge will tell you. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse.

[..*JDM Hatch*..]

Originally posted by revelations


Have you moved around the past few years?

Are there phone numbers on the tickets that you can call for an explanation?

No, I have been at the same address with all the same information for the past 5 years. As for phone numbers there is only a number to call if you wish to change the location of the court to attend.

[..*JDM Hatch*..]

Originally posted by sr20s14zenki


They don't usually fuck up and not send things out. Registered letters are serious business.

Regardless of weather or not the letter was sent, lets just say it was forgotten...did you still get another ticket to kill those last 3? Obviously yes....so you should have known...
Aaaand thats what the judge will tell you. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse.

I had a photo radar ticket about 8-9 months ago, which no demerits occur. That was the last one.

As for them not sending out a registered letter. Yes, it is serious shit and for them not to do so is not normal. I explained that to the police officer and he said that i would have had to sign for the letter, and i would have had those little tags to go and pick up a package from the post office or sign for the package at my door. The officer said to tell the crown what has happened in regards to having no knowledge of the suspension.

[Cooked Rice]

So, when was the last time you paid for a ticket that included demerits? The demerits don't go on your record until the day you pay your ticket, so if you're one of those people who brush them off until it's time to renew registration, that's when the demerits take affect. That is also the same day the 2 year period for them to come off starts as well, date of payment, not date of the ticket. So if you got 2 tickets in a year worth 3 demerits each, and paid for both of them the same day, then you would be charged 6 demerits all at one time on that day.

From Transport:
"When two years have elapsed from the date of a conviction, the number of points assessed for that conviction are removed from your record. Remember, the date of conviction is the date that you actually pay your fine or are found guilty in absence, not the date that you received the fine. "

[ExtraSlow]

So for many people, paying that ticket right away is a smart idea.

[Masked Bandit]

Originally posted by Cooked Rice
So, when was the last time you paid for a ticket that included demerits? The demerits don't go on your record until the day you pay your ticket, so if you're one of those people who brush them off until it's time to renew registration, that's when the demerits take affect.

That's not quite right. When you receive a ticket you have the option to pay right away (pleading guilty, goes on your abstract that day) or showing up to court by a certain day. If you just ignore the court date you are convicted in absentia (I think is the term) meaning the ticket will show a conviction date of whenever your court date was.

[FraserB]

Originally posted by Masked Bandit


That's not quite right. When you receive a ticket you have the option to pay right away (pleading guilty, goes on your abstract that day) or showing up to court by a certain day. If you just ignore the court date you are convicted in absentia (I think is the term) meaning the ticket will show a conviction date of whenever your court date was.

And when you're convicted in absentia, the notice of conviction is not sent by registered mail.

[revelations]

OP when was the last time you renewed your license or registration? Did you get pulled over and ticketed after that time?

Service AB has a number you can call to get more answers. 403 310 0000 - they should be able to put you in touch with someone who has the receiving end of the "registered" mail signature.

Also, some info off the website (doesent look like anything new though).

http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/2078.htm

Driving while your driver’s
licence privileges are
suspended or disqualified

If you operate a motor vehicle while your
driver’s licence driving privileges are
suspended or disqualified you can face
time in jail, fines, or both. In addition, if
you are currently serving a suspension,
you will face another suspension. The
vehicle you are driving will be seized and
impounded for 30 days regardless of
who is the registered owner. All towing
charges and impound fees will be
charged to the registered owner of the
vehicle.

Your driver’s license driving privileges
can be suspended or disqualified. If you
receive a driver’s licence suspension or
disqualification you will receive
notification via registered letter to the
last recorded address on your driver’s
licence record, from Driver Fitness and
Monitoring , indicating the reasons for
your suspension or disqualification.

[sexualbanana]

To go slightly off-topic: Since it's supposed to be registered and signed for, is there a way to find out who/when/if it was signed for?

[killramos]

Originally posted by sexualbanana
To go slightly off-topic: Since it's supposed to be registered and signed for, is there a way to find out who/when/if it was signed for?

Ask in court. Should be a part if the record.