Mistake on Drivers License, Now Cited for It
My question involves a driver's license issued by the State of Washington that mistakenly put a restriction the license stating that I was in need of corrective lenses. The reason for this was that I regularly wore glasses when I was 16 because I was planning to take pilots lessons which requires 20/20 vision. Since I wanted to get used to the glasses I wore them all the time and forgot that they were still on at the DMV. I was never asked if I required the glasses or not, it was simply assumed since I took the test that way.
Now I have been cited in Arizona for driving in violation of a restriction, 28-3480, the only restriction being the need to wear corrective lenses.
Now I have found unofficial websites that state you have to have less than 20/40 uncorrected vision in Washington state in order to need corrective lenses. At the time of the test, and now, I have corrective lenses that improve to slightly better than 20/20 from 20/30 putting me outside of the restriction. The problem lies in that I cannot find this on the official Washington website.
All I can find is this
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.a...te=308-104-010
This only states under what conditions they will perform the test. Not what conditions the restriction is put on the license. I have search and am unsure why I am unable to find the law. But I believe that the law should be there somewhere.
Furthermore, I have had multiple eye exams, before, and after my driver’s test stating that I have better then 20/30 visions (but I must obtain the medical records), and a recent test 2 month ago stating I have 20/30 vision. I also have a first class medical license for flight that says I have 20/20 uncorrected vision from a year and a half ago, this is still valid.
What statute am I missing and how else should I approach this?
PS: I’m sorry if I’m breaking any rules here with this post. I didn’t see this in violation but it is my first post, so please correct me where needed.
Also, is there any reason for them to ask for my Social Security Number on a traffic violation, and a threat to arrest me for asking what it was going to be used for? ( and i do understand that this is a criminal violation under arizona law)
Re: Mistake on Drivers License, Now Cited for It
The clerk at the DMV should have asked if you needed glasses or contacts for driving. His/Her istake for not asking but you really need to check any driving document issued by any DMV for errors before leaving. I would fight the ticket and explain the circumstances to the court. I would also bring with me a DMV vision form filled out by your eye Doctor clarifying what your visual acuity is to further prove that you have no requirement to wear corrective lenses in order to drive.
The vision standards for your state will be found easier by looking in the DMV's policy on their website rather than trying to look it up in the law. Most States vision machines test for 20/40 which usually qualifies for an unrestricted license even for a person with vision in only one eye.