Suspension After Moving To Another State

[Tom64]

I lived in MA and had a valid driver's license there. Last year, I moved to CT and turned in my MA license when I got a CT one.

Last month, I was stopped in MA for an allegedly loud exhaust. The officer gave me a ticket for the exhaust and also for mgl 90-23 Operation of motor vehicle after suspension or revocation of license.

I never received notification of the suspension since I moved to CT. When I got my CT license, they had to make sure I had nothing outstanding at the time, and I didn't. I received my CT license with no problems. Apparently, the MA suspension occurred sometime after I received my CT license, but I never heard anything about from either MA or CT.

Now the ticket that I received had my name and CT address, but the driver's license number is my OLD MA number. So essentially, the officer mixed and matched information on the ticket.

The instructions on the ticket were to mail it in within 4 days to the court on the ticket to receive notification of a court date. I mailed in the ticket to the court in MA, but have yet to receive anything from the court. My CT address is clearly on the ticket, and also on the envelope as my return address.

If they are proceeding with this whole matter while using my old MA driver's license and my old MA address, and sending nothing to me in CT at the address where I now live, what is my liability here? Can I move to dismiss the whole matter because of there administrative ineptitude? Does the fact that the ticket issued to me had incorrect information on it help me in any way?

If they have set a date in court and I never receive notification because they don't send it to me at my CT address, what happens if I miss the date because I don't know when or where they want me?

[Mr. Knowitall]

Did you know your license was suspended when you moved to Connecticut? Or that you had matters pending which, if not resolved, would result in a suspension? Did you keep whatever Massachusetts courts or government agencies were involved appraised of your current address?

You can contact the court to make sure they received your correspondence, ensure that they have your correct address, and to inquire about your court date.

You can expect that Connecticut will honor the suspension of your license from Massachusetts, such that if you blow off your problems in that state you will end up with no license.