Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

I just found out my license (cdl) is suspended for no insurance - Indiana

In 1995 my tire came off while I was driving. I struck a mail box. An officer came to the scene. I showed him all my paperwork he requested. The owner of the mailbox came to access the damage. He agreed to allow me to pay for a replacement mailbox and labor. I gave him $300 cash and he signed a statement to the fact. The officer gave me no paperwork. I went on with life.

present day:
I go to the BMV. They informed me it was suspended for no financial responsibility. They also directed me to the courthouse and who to talk to there. I called my insurance agent and asked him to get the records together. At the Traffic Division the lady said it was a "Ghost Ticket" when I asked to see the ticket. She stated no hard copy (?) had ever been filed. And that since its a Ghost ticket there's nothing to show me. The officer is no longer an officer and is not readily available to speak with. (I'd rather not discuss his situation if we can help it.)

My insurance agent has submitted the paperwork showing I had insurance - and spoke to the BMVs special division yet, I'm still facing a suspension, a fine plus reinstatement fees and need some form from my insurance guy.

My questions are:
This occurred in 1995 shouldn't my suspension time have already been completed? I offered to pay all the fees and the traffic division lady said "No I had to go to court."

I got my CDL in 1997. My driving record was clean. It showed when I got my permit and license - no tickets, accidents, nothing. Why would that show as clean if I got a ticket and a suspension?

What is a ghost ticket?

As she stated they have no physical proof of a ticket will that effect anything? I'm only worried about the suspension as I'm suspended from work til my license is in good standing.

My options at this point?

Never heard of a ghost ticket. What state are you in?

Now you can get suspended without a ticket in some cases. In Oregon, you are required to send an accident report to the state if there are injuries or the damage is more than $1500 whether a police officer even shows up or not. People generally get caught in that when one party files an accident report, but the other didn't. But that doesn't sound like your case at all.

It might be worth it to talk to a lawyer specializing in traffic cases if you require a CDL. Your local bar association can generally recommend someone if you explain the situation to them.

This occurred in Clark County, Indiana.

Thank you for the suggestion.

In PA , an imposed suspension begins on the date so indicated and if the person never surrenders their supsended license , it REMAINS in effect until the suspended license is received. So a 15 day suspension imposed in 1995 in which the driver fails to surrender his license , becomes virtually a permanent suspension.

And the suspension can be lifted once the license is in the hands of the DMV and the restoration fee has been paid. So you do not get credit for the past 16 years even though you were suspended the entier time.

Take it to court......

They have to prove you did in fact committ the offense.
with affadavit of fatcs...no ticket...and no cop to testify....the ticket would be dismissed as nobody proved anything.

Sounds like there is no ticket to dismiss or a way to get it to court. A suspension is a more or less a civil action by DMV.

I'd be willing to be a lawyer can get this straightened out, but it will take someone familiar with Indiana traffic laws. This just sounds weird.

Ghost ticket sounds like something the lady made up because she didn't know what was going on. Perhaps after so many years they destroy the hard copy or something, but other than I can't see of any state that would allow you to file any type of charge without a hard copy, or at least without at least giving one to the defendant.

And how do you know the ticket has something to do with the incident in 1995? Nothing in your post indicates that to me, but you may have left it out...