Posted: 2/27/2003 10:44:33 AM EDT
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My son is in the military stationed in North Dakota. He was reassigned from Germany last fall and is heading to the Middle East next week. Last night he was rear-ended in the local mall parking lot. Police came to investigate and write a report. What is strange, after checking some national database, the police stated my son’s drivers license was invalid and would not let him drive his car. Actually stayed on site until a cab arrived. He renewed his license after arriving home last fall and it clearly shows an expiration date of November 2007. This morning he emailed me his drivers license number and I called our DMV. A very nice lady took the information and checked. She confirmed my son’s license was current and valid until November 2007. She stated this happens quite often due to police entering license numbers incorrectly, then her office receives calls asking what is going on. My concern is twofold. First, my son not only ended up with a damaged vehicle but also had to pay a $30 cab fare. Second, they would not let him move the car (new Saturn) to a secured area. He had to leave it there subject to vandalism or being towed due to mall policy. Until he leaves he is working 12-hour shifts, so I am not sure where the car is now. Does this sound right? If you have a license in hand that states it is current but doesn’t show in some database, are there not other ways to confirm validity? Remember, this is nighttime. |
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The short answer is no on the alternate DL check. If the numbers were messed up when checking, it would come back to another person, or show "no record found". If the license in fact showed as current on the face and the computer showed it to be expired, it would be obvious that the computer hasnt been updated yet. I doubt the license is "invalid" and it may be suspended. This is a result of a traffic ticket or other fine not being paid. As for the nightime thing, I ususally offer my cell phone and wait for someone to pick them up, or offer a tow, when the city isnt going nuts. |
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A wrong number or data entry error wouldn't come back to your son. It may be an instance of the lady at the DMV having a more recent database than the cop had access to. That said, some states have the worst time updating records. I had a guy from Alabama whose record update hadn't been done in 7 months. He still had the receipts to prove it. Some states will automatically suspend licenses and not tell the license holder, especially for such things as unpaid fees. Being near a military base (Ft Hood) we run into this a lot. |
| Thanks for your comments kay9 & Johninaustin. Found out yesterday my son went back about an hour after the incident and drove his car to the apartment. Said he wasn't about to leave a new car sitting there. When I spoke to him, he was putting together his gear for departure on Tuesday. |