A suspension on a relinquished license

[TheDude]

Rather interesting situation here. In 2004 I was stopped for a DUI in Pennsylvania. A court date was set, though my lawyer had things continued until January of 2005. In May of 2004 I moved to Florida and gave up my PA license for a Florida license. Then when January came around, I pled No Contest to the DUI and had my Pennsylvania license suspended for a year. I wonder how that happened when I already gave it up? Regardless, now PennDOT wants me to take "Safe Driving School" and pay fees of about $250 to get my license back. I'm a resident of Florida, with a valid Florida license and no DUIs on it. My family lives in PA. Can I drive in Pennsylvania using my Florida license, or am I just not allowed to drive at all in PA until I pay them money?

If someone needs clarification, please let me know - thanks in advance for any help you can give me!!

[Happy Trails]

Rather interesting situation here. In 2004 I was stopped for a DUI in Pennsylvania. A court date was set, though my lawyer had things continued until January of 2005. In May of 2004 I moved to Florida and gave up my PA license for a Florida license. Then when January came around, I pled No Contest to the DUI and had my Pennsylvania license suspended for a year. I wonder how that happened when I already gave it up? Regardless, now PennDOT wants me to take "Safe Driving School" and pay fees of about $250 to get my license back. I'm a resident of Florida, with a valid Florida license and no DUIs on it. My family lives in PA. Can I drive in Pennsylvania using my Florida license, or am I just not allowed to drive at all in PA until I pay them money?

If someone needs clarification, please let me know - thanks in advance for any help you can give me!!

The Interstate Driver’s License Compact, in which Florida and Pennsylvania are a part of, is an agreement between some states that will notify your home state that your license has been suspended. (Which means that your Florida license will be also.)

You will have to clear the situation up in PA in order to reinstate your license.

[TheDude]

Interestingliy enough, I checked with the Florida DMV and my license is currently valid - no marks against it. What does this mean?? My PA license was given up two years ago in Florida, but PennDOT suspended that license anyway... doesn't make any sense to me.

[Happy Trails]

Interestingliy enough, I checked with the Florida DMV and my license is currently valid - no marks against it. What does this mean?? My PA license was given up two years ago in Florida, but PennDOT suspended that license anyway... doesn't make any sense to me.

Not everything is perfect.....

It just may be a matter of time that it will be discovered. You need to take the necessary steps in PA to get your license reinstated. Otherwise you could get pulled over and it may be THEN that it is discovered that you have been driving on a suspended license.

Get this situation resolved; then you won't lose any sleep at night.

Good luck.

[blewis]

Personally, I don't think you have anything to worry about. At the time you moved to Florida, you surrendered your PA license. At that time, if FL contacted the PA license bureau, your DUI would still have been unresolved, hence it would not have shown up on your record.

When your DUI was finally resolved, PA did not know you had moved to FL (presumably all correspondance went through your attorney), and they, therefore, did not know to notify FL.

There is no legal requirement to have a PA license to drive in PA. Any valid license from any state will do. Besides, your license suspension in PA is over, even if you have not yet had it reinstated -- and there is no law that says you MUST get it reinstated. Even if you got stopped in PA, they would check your FL license and see that it was clean. They would not know that you are the same person who had their license suspended in PA some years ago.

The only way I can see that FL can find out about your PA suspension -- at this time -- is for you to tell them. The only way for PA to find out that you now have a FL license (which was never suspended) is for you to tell them.

So, IMHO, forget about it, get on with your life, and just remember to drive safely (and sober) wherever you are.

Barry

[TheDude]

Thank you very much for your input, Mr. blewis. Indeed, you told me what I've been wanting to hear, so I'm inclined to run with it - but if anyone wishes to add to this or give another opinion I'd be more than happy to hear it. My situation is definitely awkward. Many thanks.

[Happy Trails]

Thank you very much for your input, Mr. blewis. Indeed, you told me what I've been wanting to hear, so I'm inclined to run with it - but if anyone wishes to add to this or give another opinion I'd be more than happy to hear it. My situation is definitely awkward. Many thanks.

How did you answer the questions at this site when you were applying for you FL license?

https://www6.hsmv.state.fl.us/dlcheck/AppStart

Are you a resident of Florida? Yes No

Have your driving privileges ever been suspended, revoked or denied? Yes No

Have you ever been convicted of an alcohol or drug related driving offense in your lifetime? Yes No

Will you be changing your address on a current driver license or Identification card? Yes No

[TheDude]

I didn't use that site - I went in person to the DMV. Obviously I'm a resident. I answered all the questions truthfully - at the time I hadn't been convicted of anything.

[Happy Trails]

I didn't use that site - I went in person to the DMV. Obviously I'm a resident. I answered all the questions truthfully - at the time I hadn't been convicted of anything.

IMO, you are playing a game of cat and mouse.

Blewis may be right and this may never catch up to you.

If it were me, I wouldn't want to take that chance.

I would advise that you contact your DUI attorney and seek his/her opinion.

[blewis]

Happy Trails may be right. His point is valid -- it's the only way to truly to be sure this thing won't ever come back to bite you. "Err on the side of caution" as they say. It's utimately up to you, but, as Happy advised, if you know any attorneys, it wouldn't hurt to get their opinions.
Barry