Legal Question in Traffic Law in Georgia

I had court yesterday for two different incidents combined. 1. Driving with no insurance & Suspended registration. My insurance had been cancelled by my mother when she kicked me out of our home in December 2013. From December to early march I was homeless, living with friends. So in February when I got pulled over they impounded my car and gave me a court date. My only source of income is cleaning houses for a handful of clients so it took me a couple days to borrow the almost 400.00 to get my car out of impound. Once I got it out I had to continue working and pay the 400.00 back then I was able to finally get insurance. In April my son needed milk and I ended up driving around the corner to Walmart to get him some when I got pulled over the second time for my registration. Shortly after that day I was able to pay the registration fee so now both issues are taken care of. However when I went to court yesterday I spoke with the solicitor who told me they would put me on probation to give me time to pay my 2,000 + worth of fees and they would terminate the probation once the fees were paid. When I finally saw the judge they agreed on this so I was told to wait for probation. As I waited a gentleman after me had a similR issue plus another no insurance ticket and he also had been out on probation however the judge told him his liscense would be suspended and asked him for his liscense. My goal going to court was to keep my liscense... However when I spoke with the probation rep as I'm about to leave she tells me that my liscense will be suspended! And asked for my liscense, not understanding I asked what I was supposed to do and she directed me to the DMV about a work permit...

If the judge and solicitor said nothing about my liscense being suspended how could it even truely be suspended?

I contacted the dmv and she said loganville hasn't sent over anything saying it was suspended it would be the next day until she could tell me if I would be eligible for a work permit or not and have me a phone number to call today, which I already called and the lady I spoke with told me they still haven't gotten anything from the courts and the DMV would send me a letter once they have received something and only then could I possibly get a work permit.

I have a 14 month old son who relys on me. I don't have days to wait on this. My job requires me to drive to different houses in the Gwinnett and walton county area & if I can't do that I'm not sure how they think I'll be able to pay for probation. My dad lives in Arizona and my mom has a full time job so I don't have anyone to postpone their life to help me.

Any advice or information would be helpful,

Thank you!


Asked on 5/16/14, 6:10 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Glen Ashman Ashman Law Office also dba Glen Ashman Attorney

You made an unfixable mistake in being your own lawyer - no way to fix it now. Suspended registration cases and suspended insurance cases always result in a loss of license (and the judge is NOT your lawyer and need not counsel you) unless you succeed in making the properly worded pleas (or reduction in charges or acquittal) and get those accepted. You have learned a valuable life lesson the hard way - do not go to court without a lawyer. Court doesn't have do-overs.

Read more
Answered on 5/16/14, 6:22 am


Related Questions & Answers

More Traffic Law questions and answers in Georgia