|
Auto Insurance Woes in AZ, Court Case
Hello all. In the 2nd week of March 2006 I was pulled over and given a citation for a lack of insurance. My car insurance had expired in January 2006 (6 weeks prior). Consequently, my driver's license went into suspended mode. The only "good" thing was the cop did not have my car towed.
Within 2 weeks I had my car insurance renewed with the same company and made more than 3 trips to the DMV to show proof of insurance, pay the DMV fine, I got a new license plate (the cop had taken the license plate off my car), had my registration reinstated with the DMV and had the emission test re-done.
I went to the Peoria Court on the date and time given on the citation that was issued to me only to find the court closed. There was a sign on the door saying that all people had to go to the court in Surprise, AZ and not having directions on how to get there opted to go back to work. I wasn't overly worried because I figured even in my absence, when my case was called, the judge would see that I was once again in full compliance of the law, that I had a new 6 month auto insurance policy that began March 22, 2006 through September 2006, and I had paid for the SR-22 type of insurance coverage as was needed in my case (I had to pay in full). I had already also paid all the fines to the DMV, and had my registration reinstated. So I figured the case would be dropped. Big mistake.
I received a letter from the court in Surprise, AZ stating that my driver's license was still in suspended mode, that I had to pay a fine of $1,500.00 by April 16, 2006 and that failure to do so would likely result in a warrant being issued for my arrest. The letter was dated June 22, 2006, more than a month after the due date of the fine.
Needless to say, I do not have $1,500.00 to pay the fine and absolutely do not wish to have a warrant out for my arrest. I spoke to a court clerk the day after receiving the letter and she told me the only way the fine/case would be dropped is to show I had insurance the day the citation was issued.
I called my auto insurance company and asked if there was any way they could change the policy date to show coverage beginnning one month prior to when it was reinstated on March 22, 2006, but of course they cannot do this. What can I do?
Any advice or input that anyone can give me would be greatly appreciated. I need to keep and drive my car and therefore cannot have a suspended driver's license. I also do not have the means to pay the $1,500.00 fine.
I'm hoping I can get a 2nd court date and maybe the judge would be a bit flexible in my case as I did quickly get back into complaince with the law, but I have heard that the courts in Maricopa County, AZ are some of the worst and almost always favor the bank.
Please, any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance, ArizonaGirl.
|
