License suspended ... Please read

[Joey_P]

A)I’ve heard of cases where someone comes out of a store and finds their car’s been hit. Then it’s just a matter of finding a car that looks like it could have done the damage and calling the cops with that plate number. Bonus points if that car has similar damage. That’s what’s going on here.

B)Are you 100% sure the Sec. Of State thing is legit. If I were you I would Google the phone number or contact name on the letter you got and make sure that it’s actually theirs or look up their phone number to make sure, at the very least, the contact numbers are the same prefix as the ones you use. Just to make sure they’re not forging the letters. It’s a long shot, but I’d make sure, if I were you. Maybe the next time you call, you could use the contact number on the website and go that route.
Or call the IL DOT and see if you license has actually been suspended.

It would be a ballsy move of them to do this, but you know they already lied about the accident.

It sucks that you didn’t have car insurance at the time of the ‘accident’ as they would have handled this for you. If you own a home, you could try calling your home owners insurance. I doubt they want anything to do with it, but it might be worth a call if you don’t have anywhere else to turn.

[Blndenblue]

@Princhester

Attorneys who specialise in traffic won’t take your case because it involves the government authorities that deal with traffic? Riiiiight.

Are you saying that in the OP’s state an insurance company can cause someone to lose their licence for non-payment of accident costs even though that person hasn’t been found by any court to have caused the accident? I don’t think so.

There is stuff we aren’t being told.

Well you can claim that you aren’t being told things all you’d like however I’m just as confused by all of this as anyone else is. I have NEVER had a ticket or an accident in my life until all this happened!!
And YES the insurance company turned me into the Sec of State for “non-payment” of the damage to her vehicle and THAT is why I’m in this mess, well other than the woman who lied about the claim so YES that can happen

[Blndenblue]

@Joey_P

A)I’ve heard of cases where someone comes out of a store and finds their car’s been hit. Then it’s just a matter of finding a car that looks like it could have done the damage and calling the cops with that plate number. Bonus points if that car has similar damage. That’s what’s going on here.

B)Are you 100% sure the Sec. Of State thing is legit. If I were you I would Google the phone number or contact name on the letter you got and make sure that it’s actually theirs or look up their phone number to make sure, at the very least, the contact numbers are the same prefix as the ones you use. Just to make sure they’re not forging the letters. It’s a long shot, but I’d make sure, if I were you. Maybe the next time you call, you could use the contact number on the website and go that route.
Or call the IL DOT and see if you license has actually been suspended.

It would be a ballsy move of them to do this, but you know they already lied about the accident.

It sucks that you didn’t have car insurance at the time of the ‘accident’ as they would have handled this for you. If you own a home, you could try calling your home owners insurance. I doubt they want anything to do with it, but it might be worth a call if you don’t have anywhere else to turn.

Thank you for your nice response and also the advice of calling, yes I did call to check it out and all the numbers belong to whom is listed on the paper I received.
Many apparently think I’m leaving so much of what happened out, however I have much better things in life to do than lie about a car accident and having my license suspended for no reason.

[Oakminster]

You may find some useful information here.

[astro]

Two things that you say make no sense to me.

1: Car insurance is always something you buy for yourself and you have to make application individually. Other people do not buy it for you for a vehicle you personally own. That you thought (somehow) the dealership selling you the vehicle was insuring you as a driver and not their interest in the vehicle baffles me. I can’t imagine an adult driver not knowing this.

2: Re

“March 3 of 2013. March of 2014 I received a letter from the Secretary of State telling me that they were suspending my license on March 21 2014 if I didn’t pay for the damage to this lady’s vehicle. I faxed them the papers from court showing I was not guilty and charges had been dismissed, however they said I was still responsible for the damages because of not having insurance and they claim I have no proof of not being involved in the accident”

I’m sorry but this (as you describe it) is simply not believable. There is an accident which you been found to have no part in and you give them proof of this, and they are saying it does not matter because “you can’t prove you were not involved”.

Unless the person you are dealing is insane this makes no sense whatsoever on any level. No rational bureaucrat would take this position. Either the person telling you this is utterly incompetent, someone is trying to scam you, or you are leaving out a big part of this puzzle.

[simster]

I’m still strugging to understand why the ‘secretary of state’ would be involved in a civil suit (if that) between two individuals - regardless of wether or not you had insurance at the time. Since when does the ‘state’ get involved in suspending someones license for a civil matter?

The other parties insurance company could attempt to come at you - but the ‘secretary of state’? nah.

Either you’re being scammed or you’re scamming us - nothing in your story adds up.

[Lord_Feldon]

@simster

I’m still strugging to understand why the ‘secretary of state’ would be involved in a civil suit (if that) between two individuals - regardless of wether or not you had insurance at the time. Since when does the ‘state’ get involved in suspending someones license for a civil matter?

The Secretary of State’s office is responsible for driver licensing in Illinois. It’s the Illinois DMV.

[simster]

@Lord_Feldon

The Secretary of State’s office is responsible for driver licensing in Illinois. It’s the Illinois DMV.

That part makes sense - thanks for the clarification -

That doesn’t answer why they would be involved in enforcing a civil suit (that hasn’t been won) on a claim for damages - that hasn’t been proven - against an individual that was not involved (based on OP statement and police investigation at the time) - even if the OP did not have insurance at the time - that matter has been resolved (and is irrelevant to the claim for damages).

If this is part of their jurisdiction (revoking licenses for unpaid damage claims) - seems due process is not being followed. (and I would be amazed if this is within their power). The only way that makes sense is if the OP missed the lawsuit against her for damages and the winning party is using the state to enforce collection (possibly something that can be done in the “hey, we won claim for damages, law says you can pull non-insured licenses until they pay up” department, but I’d love to see a cite says thats the case)

(I’ll bow out of the conversation now - not knowing Illinois law - but this smells fishy all the way around)

[Oakminster]

@astro

I’m sorry but this (as you describe it) is simply not believable. There is an accident which you been found to have no part in and you give them proof of this, and they are saying it does not matter because “you can’t prove you were not involved”.

Unless the person you are dealing is insane this makes no sense whatsoever on any level. No rational bureaucrat would take this position. Either the person telling you this is utterly incompetent, someone is trying to scam you, or you are leaving out a big part of this puzzle.

@simster

I’m still strugging to understand why the ‘secretary of state’ would be involved in a civil suit (if that) between two individuals - regardless of wether or not you had insurance at the time. Since when does the ‘state’ get involved in suspending someones license for a civil matter?

Did you see this:

@Oakminster

You may find some useful information here.

[astro]

@Oakminster

Did you see this:

In your link

If the evidence supports probable liability (at least 50 percent at fault) on the part of the person or persons certified as uninsured and the accident involves property damage in excess of $500, personal injury, or death, the Secretary of State’s office notifies the motorist that his/her driver’s license and/or vehicle registration is suspended.

She has proved with documentation re the court rulings that it was determined she was not even involved in the accident. How can whoever she is talking with at the State claim she has “no proof of not being involved in the accident” in the face of this documentation? It makes no sense. Something is missing here.

[Oakminster]

@astro

She has proved with documentation re the court rulings that it was determined she was not even involved in the accident. How can whoever she is talking with at the State claim she has “no proof of not being involved in the accident” in the face of this documentation? It makes no sense. Something is missing here.

I suspect that she has not yet requested a hearing as mentioned later in that article to challenge the suspension.

[Missy2U]

@Oakminster

I suspect that she has not yet requested a hearing as mentioned later in that article to challenge the suspension.

From prior experience with the SoS in Illinois, this exactly is the next step. Although I’d suggest she get a lawyer to help.

[doreen]

@astro

In your link

She has proved with documentation re the court rulings that it was determined she was not even involved in the accident. How can whoever she is talking with at the State claim she has “no proof of not being involved in the accident” in the face of this documentation? It makes no sense. Something is missing here.

  The case that was dismissed appears to have been a criminal case ( maybe leaving the scene of an accident)  given the references to a trial and the state's attorney.   The fact that the state failed to prove that she was guilty beyond a reasonable  doubt in that trial has no bearing on whether she is liable for the damages, which certainly has a lower standard of proof.  It's a preliminary determination and she can request a hearing to contest it.

Oh and the reason they’re asking for an amended police report- no doubt the police report was one of the pieces of evidence relied on to make the determination that the OP is liable. Rightly or wrongly, that person at the SOS’s office got the impression that the OP was contesting the accuracy of the police report which can only be resolved by an amended report.

[simster]

Thanks **Oakminster **and **Astro **- ignorance fought.

[AdmiralQ]

Just from personal experience, I can emphasize with the OP. About 5 years ago, I received a speeding ticket in Wisconsin. Went to the court date and got it reduced from a 18 mph over the limit to a 1-9mph over category, which I promptly paid on my way out of the courthouse.

Lo and behold, around a year later or so I receive a notice in the mail telling me my license has been suspended for non-payment of that ticket. I KNOW I paid it, I even was able to bring up a photocopy of the canceled check on my bank’s website. I go ahead and check out our state’s online court records, and sure enough, they show it as being paid. WTF???

I call the DMV, and after being transferred probably 10 times, I speak to a “supervisor” who tells me I have to go in person to a DMV office with proof of payment. Fine, whatever, it’s a waste of my time, but if that’s why I have to do, so be it.

So I go into a DMV a couple of days later, and after 2 wasted hours, I am told by 4 or 5 different people there, that they can’t take care of it, but “it has to go through Madison”. They explain that in one “system”, it shows the ticket paid, but in the other “system”, it shows it as never paid. I show them the copy of the canceled check, but they just say “well, anyone can make those up, we have to go by what the computer says”.

At this point, I’ve had enough and resign myself to getting a lawyer. I ask around, get some referrals, and talk to probably 15 different lawyers, who all decline to take the case. Double WTF??? I was told varying reasons, but most of them revolved around “it doesn’t make sense to me, and I don’t feel like fighting the DMV”. I FINALLY find a lawyer who takes the case, and $1700 later, 3 different court dates, and untold hours of my life wasted, my license is finally reinstated.

[Kimballkid]

@Blndenblue

One of the tickets was a no insurance ticket, now let me explain … my husband was injured at work and my insurance lapsed, the place I had my van financed through had added $2000 telling me it was for my insurance, only to find out it wasn’t insurance that covered me but them.

Speaking from my experience with this part (long story), if you had read the letter the finance company sent you about this it would have explained they were just talking about property insurance and not actual auto insurance.

@md2000

$2000 for insurance??
Presumably on a policy that only covered the risk of damage to their asset?
Wow, someone sees a nice way to make money by kicking people while they are down.

It’s actually probably about right. It depends on how much longer the payment term is for the vehicle. When I got my letter, I think it said it was going to be something like $1200 or so and there was only a year left on the loan.

[Blndenblue]

@AdmiralQ

Just from personal experience, I can emphasize with the OP. About 5 years ago, I received a speeding ticket in Wisconsin. Went to the court date and got it reduced from a 18 mph over the limit to a 1-9mph over category, which I promptly paid on my way out of the courthouse.

Lo and behold, around a year later or so I receive a notice in the mail telling me my license has been suspended for non-payment of that ticket. I KNOW I paid it, I even was able to bring up a photocopy of the canceled check on my bank’s website. I go ahead and check out our state’s online court records, and sure enough, they show it as being paid. WTF???

I call the DMV, and after being transferred probably 10 times, I speak to a “supervisor” who tells me I have to go in person to a DMV office with proof of payment. Fine, whatever, it’s a waste of my time, but if that’s why I have to do, so be it.

So I go into a DMV a couple of days later, and after 2 wasted hours, I am told by 4 or 5 different people there, that they can’t take care of it, but “it has to go through Madison”. They explain that in one “system”, it shows the ticket paid, but in the other “system”, it shows it as never paid. I show them the copy of the canceled check, but they just say “well, anyone can make those up, we have to go by what the computer says”.

At this point, I’ve had enough and resign myself to getting a lawyer. I ask around, get some referrals, and talk to probably 15 different lawyers, who all decline to take the case. Double WTF??? I was told varying reasons, but most of them revolved around “it doesn’t make sense to me, and I don’t feel like fighting the DMV”. I FINALLY find a lawyer who takes the case, and $1700 later, 3 different court dates, and untold hours of my life wasted, my license is finally reinstated.

Thank you for your response and I’m sorry to hear that you went through this but glad to hear that someone else understands sort of what is going on.
I placed a call to her insurance agent, who stated, they had never received a ruling from the judge in this matter and this is why they forwarded it to the SoS for a “non payment suspension” I then went and faxed copies of the court records again and asked that she call me when she received the fax. I received a call just a bit ago, she is taking the matter to her supervisor and requesting a call be placed to the SoS for reinstatement of my license along with a claim against their insured client for fraud.
Thank you to all who replied … had I come across a post such as this and it sounded as crazy as all of this I would also feel as though pieces are missing, as I have yet to make sense of things I have been told in all of this. However, I’m hoping the “missing piece” of all of this was the court documents not being received by her insurance company and that this will be cleared up within a few days! Here’s to hoping anyway

[VinylTurnip]

Well, that’s an unexpectedly bright turn.

Odd that you were apparently chosen at random. You’d think someone trying to perpetrate insurance fraud would at least pick another vehicle that had damage. I’m guessing you’re not dealing with a criminal genius here.