courts set own terms for collecting fines and fees from Virginia drivers

This article is the second in a three part series about license suspensions in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Read the first partof the series here.

cheap Canada Goose Gregory Sewell, a car salesman at Pearson Toyota in Newport News, says he paid nearly $12,000 to have his driver license reinstated. (Steve Roberts, Jr./WYDaily) cheap Canada Goose

Gregory Sewell is a tall and slender car salesman at Pearson Toyota in Newport News. His eyes are regularly shaded by the brim of a baseball cap emblazoned with the Toyota logo. He projects a gregarious nature and honest character, one that counteracts the typical profile of a used car canada goose outlet uk fake salesman.

canada goose clearance While Sewell may be atypical in the world of car sales, he’s not atypical as a driver. Sewell is one of more than one canada goose outlet 2015 and a quarter million Virginians canada goose outlet woodbury who live with at least onelicense suspension on their record, according to data from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Nearly one canada goose outlet store near me in four Virginia drivers (22.61 percent) have had their license suspended as of September, 2016. canada goose clearance

canada goose On canada goose outlet michigan Feb. 20, 2013, Sewell was stopped in Norfolk for improperly changing lanes. He was found guilty on the charge at Norfolk General District Court about a month later. He was also driving unknowingly without insurance, he said. canada goose

In the Commonwealth of Virginia, operating an uninsured motor canada goose factory outlet vancouver vehicle is a misdemeanor offense that requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to administratively suspend the driver’s license and all registration certificates of any titled owner, unless the driver has previously paid an Uninsured Motor Vehicle fee of $500 for the specific vehicle they are operating. The police officer who stopped Sewell let him off with a warning, but Sewell still suffered harsh penalties from his creditors and insurance company.

canada goose coats on sale Sewell said his girlfriend at the time had canceled the couple’s insurance policy without alerting Sewell. “Basically, she cancelled the insurance completely,” he said. “Because I had no insurance, they suspended my license.” canada goose coats on sale

canada goose clearance sale At the time Sewell had a loan on his vehicle. Once he was caught driving without insurance and his license was suspended, canada goose outlet in new york the creditors on his car loan required him to buy a certificate of forced insurance. canada goose clearance sale

canada goose coats “It was like slapping a $5,000 fine on top of my loan because I didn’t have insurance,” he said. canada goose coats

Canada Goose sale Sewell said his insurance more thantripled after the suspension, risingfrom $79 to roughly $250a month. He also had to file for a particular state driver certification called an SR 22, one of several financial responsibility certifications required by canada goose outlet mississauga the Commonwealth if a driver is convicted of certain traffic infractions. Canada Goose sale

canada goose black friday sale The SR 22 financial responsibility certification Sewell obtained is required if a driver was convicted for unsatisfied judgments, uninsured motor vehicle suspension, failure to provide proof of insurance associated with insurance monitoring, and falsifying insurance certification canada goose outlet location among several more, according to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. canada goose black friday sale

“I had no driver’s license,” Sewell said. “I had to pay to have that reinstatement. It’s probably hurt me about 10 to 12 grand. So, I learned my lesson.”

buy canada goose jacket cheap “It was a big change,” he added. “As far as going out and hanging out with my friends. canada goose parka outlet I had to cut it back to Netflix and Bertolli.” buy canada goose jacket cheap

canada goose deals While the state has its share of drivers like Sewell, who can afford to pay the expenses associated with having their license suspended albeit with certain sacrifices there are thousands of Virginia drivers who cannot afford to pay even the smallest fines associated with their offense. canada goose deals

Take for instance Kyle Dean, a Hampton resident in his early 20 who sports a mane of brown hair fit for the cover of a 1970’s rock album. On the morning canada goose outlet new york city of Oct. 18, https://www.canadagoosejacketsoutsale.com Dean entered the Williamsburg James City County General District Court to canada goose outlet online store review face charges of driving without a license the month before.

“At first I didn’t pay my court fines,” Dean said just outside the courtroom.

On Dec. 28, 2015, Dean rolled through a red light and was canada goose kensington parka uk stopped by Officer Carlsen of the Williamsburg Police Department, according to court records. Dean was found guilty in absentia on Feb. 1, 2016. He incurred a $50 fine canada goose discount uk and a court fee of $96 for the offense.

After Dean canada goose outlet failed to pay the $146 in fines and fees, his canada goose outlet nyc license was suspended, but he continued to drive to work. On Sept. 17, canada goose outlet winnipeg address Dean arrived at his workplace and the security alarm was going off. Police arrived on the scene and witnessed Dean canada goose outlet online driving canada goose factory outlet toronto location his vehicle into the parking lot.

Canada Goose Jackets Deputies then checked the licenses of all employees before ticketing Dean for driving on a suspended license. Under oath a month later, Deansaid he couldn’t afford to pay the court fines and fees associated with the offense. Canada Goose Jackets

According to court records, Dean was found guilty of driving on a suspended license on Dec. 29. He was sentenced to two months probation and incurred an additional $101 in court costs, which are due by May. His license will be reinstated after all of his fines and fees are paid.

buy canada goose jacket The number of people in canada goose outlet canada Virginia with suspended licenses is nearly equivalent to the entire population of the state of Maine, according to United States Census Data. Of those suspensions, roughly half are for failure to pay court fines and fees. buy canada goose jacket

Canada Goose online According to the DMV, there are 647,517 Virginians who have lost their privilege to drive only because they failed to pay court fines and fees. The number of Virginians canada goose vest outlet who have lost their privilege to drive due to non payment of court fines and fees is greater than the entire population of the state of Vermont, according to United States Census Data. Canada Goose online

Each court operates as an independent body within the greater justice system, and courts are allowed to set their own terms and conditions for payment plans. There are very few limitations between courts. A defendant can set up a payment plan with a General District Court Clerk’s office, and then walk a short distance and be set up in an entirely different plan in the Circuit Court Clerk’s office.

Williamsburg James City Courthouse (File photo)

On March 7, 2016, the General canada goose parka outlet uk Assembly passed House Bill 572 and gave the court system the power to determine how all payment plans would be set up. The bill stated that individual payment plans should remain consistent with “the Rules of Supreme Court of Virginia” and that such rules “shall be posted in the clerk office and on the court website, if a website is available.”

Canada Goose Parka After the passage of House Bill 572, the only limitations placed on the payment plan system were to be imposed canada goose jacket outlet store by the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia. “Please contact the clerk of that local court.” Canada Goose Parka

canadian goose jacket Both General District Courts of Williamsburg James City County and York Poquoson offer an installment payment plan to people like Kyle Dean, who can’t pay all of their fines and fees up front canadian goose jacket.