Renewing Your License With an Out-of-State Suspension

[meegs]

My question involves a driver's license issued by the State of: NJ

I am a NJ resident and have a NJ drivers license that expires in 2 months. I am currently on probation in NJ for a DUI involving a traffic accident that occurred in PA last year. My driving privileges are suspended in PA until this November. I still have my NJ license and my PO assured me that I am legally allowed to drive in NJ because my suspension is only in the state of PA. I'm worried that I will encounter issues trying to renew my NJ license in June due to my current suspension in PA. Will I have to wait until I can be reinstated in PA before I can renew my NJ license?? Any help is greatly appreciated!

[CORedneck]

More than likely, you won't be able to renew your NJ license until the PA suspension is up. The PA suspension will show on the NDR and all states have access to the NDR. No state will issue a license until the NDR is cleared.

Also you need to make sure you acknowledge the PA suspension. If it wasn't acknowledged, then the suspension clock has not started. Not a plug on any site but good contact would be --> http://www.licenserestoration.com/

Acknowledgment form is DL-16C (item 5) at URL http://www.licenserestoration.com/forms . If that hasn't been done, I would contact Vincent at the given web site.

Please let us know what happened.

[meegs]

Thanks for the response.

I have the paperwork from PA DOT informing me of my suspension, I sent back the forms, and received a letter a few weeks later informing that my suspension started in early November 2011. The term is 12 months. The accident and conviction all occurred in PA, but I am a permanent NJ resident so they transferred my probation to NJ. Due to NDR, I thought my license would also be suspended in NJ, but my PO assured me from the beginning that my driving privileges in NJ would not be affected and I would retain my NJ drivers license. I have never had a license in PA and I am working on the requirements to reinstate my privileges (highway safety course, restoration fees, etc).
I know that NJ does not offer any probationary driver license while under suspension, but PA does for work and medical necessities called the OLL. I have two jobs, one of which in Philadelphia, and I currently travel by train to avoid any further legal troubles. I'm looking to see if I qualify for OLL and if that may allow me to renew my NJ license. My DL expires in June, so I have 2 months to figure it out. Wish me luck!!

[vincedia]

Your term of suspension in PA will (or has) start when your acknowledge your suspension. Your privileges are suspended in Pennsylvania and only in PA. If NJ has not suspended your driving privileges, then you can drive anywhere but Pennsylvania.

You will not qualify for the OLL (Work License) because you are not a resident or licensed in PA.

Once your NJ license expires they will not renew it because of the hold in Pennsylvania. You will then be unlicensed in NJ and under suspension in Pennsylvania.

I would not trust your PO on license matters. Talk to your DMV directly or consult with a lawyer. Your PO has no authority and they usually have very little knowledge of license issues.

Good luck.

Vince