My car went to jail

[gabossie]

So.... I got busted last night. I've been driving on a suspended license for 8 months now, and as a result, I drive extremely safe now... but I made a mistake last night. I semi ran a red light, it was yellow and it was a right hand turn, but I got busted. They impounded my car. The officer told me I could get it back today, but everywhere I read it says 30 days. Anyone know what the criminal consequences are in California for my actions?

[The Mic]

same thing happened to my bro. 30 day impound. $1000 fine.

btw, which DMV are you assigned to go to usually?

edit: Im confused on the new "you-can-get-it-back-next-day" policy. Thats news.

[nsrZ32]

Yikes. Good luck man

[ilovedrifting]

That sucks *** man. good luck, hope you don't have to wait 30 days. don't know what i would do if i couldn't use my 240 for 30 days

[gabossie]

Just as my project was really starting to make some progress, I think it may be time to sell the car...

[LaughingBull]

What do you get personally for driving on a suspended license?

[Jesda]

Ouch, that sucks. In Washington, they let you get your car immediately, and theres a fine of up to $1000 or 90 days in prison. 99% of the time, folks get a $200-$300 fine and a day in court.

I hope they didnt tow it with the rear wheels on the ground.

[PalmerWMD]

Fred..

[gabossie]

What kind of problems am I looking at if they did tow it with the rear wheels on the ground? I'm sure they did, they don't have any particular concern for what might happen to the car that they are towing. I know I shouldn't have been driving on a suspended license and all, but try living in southern california without a vehicle, especially with the sort of late hours I work in studio for my major. It would not be possible unless I moved back on campus.

[Jesda]

Apparently, I am told: The transmission is still going through some kind of mechanical rotation, but with the car turned off there's no fluid flowing. Very destructive.

Hopefully the lot they hauled it to wasnt more than a mile or two away.

[574-240sx]

Ouch sorry to hear about that. I have never dealt with that before. Only thing I can say is good luck and good luck with the insurance.

[JDMaholic]

You should be fine if it is a manual(I'm assuming it is) as they can be towed short distances as long as it was in neutral when they towed it, long distances can cause problems in the syncros or bend a shift fork. If it is an automatic though then it can damage your transmission or torque converter even in neutral. I'm sure any reputable towing company would properly tow it, many use flatbeds because of the huge increase in SUV's

[PalmerWMD]

Apparently, I am told: The transmission is still going through some kind of mechanical rotation, but with the car turned off there's no fluid flowing. Very destructive.

Hopefully the lot they hauled it to wasnt more than a mile or two away.

Only if its an automatic RWD.

Is his car manual or auto?

Fred..

[gabossie]

It's a manual.

http://www.nicoclub.com/zeropost?cmd=fshow&id=144

[seansays2u]

I am driving without a licence as of now too, I hope I do not get caught. But, I only have about 20 days left. I think I am going to cut back a lot. I have already been followed 3 times, and I do have to agree, I drive insanely slow now.

[The Mic]

driving while on suspension eh???

GO DIRECTLY TO JAIL

DO NOT PASS GO

DO NOT COLLECT $200

[C-Kwik]

Having been through this myself, I highly recommend if you have a suspended license, do NOT drive. It's a two point violation if you get caught and considered a major violation which I think can be looked at for 7 years(CA). It's a PITA to have to deal with. You have to keep an SR-22 on file with the DMV for at least a year. The fine is close to about $1000, but the DA might cut you a break if you go see him. I happened to get pissed off that the cop cited me for something I did not to and despite pissing off the arraignment judge I decided to try the cas to have the charge I was not guilty of dropped. The DA actually removed everything bvut the violation of driving on a suspended license and lowered the suspended license from a misdemeanor to an infraction, which lowered the fine to about $271. I appealled the suspension by having a hearing and they reduced the suspension to only 1 month from the hearing date. All said and done, I would have been better off just taking a bus as soon as it was suspended as I would have been without my license for a shorter period and had an extra $1000 in my pocket(the storage fees were about $700).

As far as getting the vehicle sooner, the only way is if someone else owns the car and the vehicle is their only vehicle.

[Altiman94]

don't do it, don't do it. Get a ride. I can't emphasize this enough. Thats what I had to do when I lost mine.

[Jesda]

Another thing to discourage DWSL:In Washington state at least, cops will punch in your plate on their computer and look up the status of your registration AND the registered owner's driving license all at once. They do it to any car they're following. If youre going to drive suspended, drive someone else's car -- good luck getting someone to loan you a vehicle!

[Altiman94]

Yeah, I wouldn't loan my vehicle(s) out to an unlicensed driver. Too many risks.

[BadMojo]

It's a PITA to have to deal with. You have to keep an SR-22 on file with the DMV for at least a year. The fine is close to about $1000, but the DA might cut you a break if you go see him.

In most situations, requiring an SR-22 filing will also do bad things to your insurance premiums. Things that will make your butt hurt. Depending on your driving record, the reason for the filing and the insurance laws in your state you should either get used to the bus or sell a kidney (yours or someone else's) to pay your insurance premiums.

Anyway, I think we've made the HUGE leap of logic that leads us to "driving while under a suspended license = bad idea".

[MinisterofDOOM]

Another thing to discourage DWSL:In Washington state at least, cops will punch in your plate on their computer and look up the status of your registration AND the registered owner's driving license all at once. They do it to any car they're following. If youre going to drive suspended, drive someone else's car -- good luck getting someone to loan you a vehicle!

I think they do that everywhere. I know they do it here in Utah. I've been pulled over plenty of times because I was a dumbass and put my '04 registration sticker over my month sticker, so I had two year stickers. THey'd just follow me for a few minuted and then the lights would come on. I got used to it. I finally got a new month sticker, since I registered it last month. But I know they check it all at once, because they always had all my info, and told it to me before asking for proof that it was all correct.

[gabossie]

Well...it's a little late, but thanks guys. I would take the bus, but with the hours that I work in studio, it's simply impossible. Often I'm in studio for days at a time, or until ungodly times of the night/morning. I'm still not sure what I'm going to do about this situation even after I get my car back. I obviously wont be getting my license back for some time seeing as I already had 2 points on my record for the DUI a year ago (reason for the suspension). So 2 more for the driving, and I assume another for the red light... 5 points... that's bad. I'm not even a bad driver or a bad kid... ugh. Never would have thought I would be dealing with this kind of crap.

[gabossie]

Oh, and everything I've read says it's a minimum 10 days in jail. Anyone know anything about that? My ticket does have it marked as an infraction charge though.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Wait...now I'm confused. Could someone explain the points system to me? All these numbers sound way too low. Maybe the points system varies state to state...I don't know.

[Jesda]

Starving student -- a judge isnt going to put you in jail. Dont sweat it. Show up in court and be prepared to admit to everything and be very nice. You can negotiate with the prosecutor yourself and this will all be behind you (after you pay the fine).

[LaughingBull]

Yeah I got a suspended license and I don't drive. It sucks walking like 2 miles to work and 2 miles to school, but its punishment and I see it as that. I've looked at driving because it sucks so much , but when I look at what would happen if I got caught it doesn't really make it worth driving to me. Also C-kwik how did you get it down to a month?

[gabossie]

Ugh, I just checked my email and had two about buying my car, made me sick. I got the most hollow feeling in my stomach, this is not good times.

[DAEDALUS]

Sorry man. Had a charge dropped once. Suspiciously, the bill came to $271, just like C-Kwik. Probably the same judge! What I learned in my day in court (because I stood up and asked the judge) is that you can plead guilty, plead innocent, or ask to speak to the DA. The evidence being what it is, I'd probably ask to speak to the DA. Explain your situation and hope for some slack. Actually, you can apply to get a public defender too that might help you out. Apparently I didn't qualify for a public defender (I'm rich???).In my case I got lucky I guess...the DA was busy and I was never called to see her. Judge called me up, found out the DA hadn't done her job, and cut me a deal right there. No crime, no record, just $271.Infractions sure beat misdemeanors. What is the code you're charged with violating? Usually says V.C. 4837b or something like that.

[KDashy]

I've been pulled over plenty of times because I was a dumbass and put my '04 registration sticker over my month sticker, so I had two year stickers.

Haha, thats the funniest thing I've heard today.