Thoughts and ideas?

Dr.Jass

Dr.Jass

Pastor of Muppets
OK, I've exhausted every other option so I've decided to write a letter to the governor to plead my case regarding my driver's license.

I'm stone-dead serious about this, guys. While I don't deny or belittle that which I've done, I think it's a bit ridiculous for me to have had no license for almost 8 years for a 2nd-offense DUI while a friend of mine with a felony 3rd offense will get his license back in two months after less than two years suspended... he got his 3rd while suspended for his second, no less--and he did far less jail time, too.

Currently, my idea is to be serious but not a beggar about my situation. I'm thinking that if I can come across as a likeable guy (I know, that's gonna be a trick) and maybe I've had to pass on opportunities that would have allowed me to live in my own home and though I love my job I despise living downstairs from the constantly-screaming Leadpeds and their jumping children, and having to rent a place when I already own one of which I'm rather fond.

Another job opportunity recently surfaced on which I'll have to pass because of transport; for better or worse it would have represented a huge pay raise for no other reason than the fact I'd not have to spend so much to live here in Esky. I may not have taken it anyway since I love my job here as much as I do, but even so commuting would cost me a lot less than renting another place and paying utilities on it.

The simple facts of the matter are these:

1) My punishment for what I've done has gone beyond the limits of reason, even as dictated by state law, because of the nearly-autonomous entity known as the DLAD (Driver's License Appeal Division), which is a subentity of the Secretary of State.

2) The Secretary of State's office is part of the Executive Branch of the state government; the Secretary of State and her lackeys answer only to the governor (which is why I've gotten nowhere going through my members of Congress).

3) It's an election year, and God knows our incumbent governor needs every bit of help she can get. Doing something reasonable might translate into more votes... or as an outgoing "lame duck", she might pull a Bill Clinton and pardon folks willy-nilly, deserving or not.

4) Gracious and accomodating as they've been, it's got to be wearing on Stretch and Sidekick to take time out of their life together to cart my happy ass back and forth so I can spend time at my home.

I've got a potential prospect that might consider coming to work with me here in Esky; he only lives minutes from my house in Kingsford but I don't know if we can pay him enough to support his family... then again, he works in Milwaukee now and only sees them on the weekend so he might take the cut to spend time at home with the kids each night. Obviously, I'd split fuel and maintenance costs with him for the commuter vehicle, but short of that option I'm stuck with this situation should the guv'nuh not respond... so I'm pinning my hopes on this letter.

I plan to post the letter here upon completion for further review, but before I get too far into it I'd like to get any thoughts or commentary beforehand to guide my hand, so to speak. I don't want to spend a lot of time writing on something universally regarded as a bad idea later.

So, if anyone has anything to suggest or just general thoughts on this, I'd like to hear them.
 
What's the worst they could do? Say no? You're long overdue for the Hail Mary play. You've got nothing to loose and everything to gain as I see it. Not that your current lifestyle resembles that of your past, but if you were here in FL, you could get anywhere between 8 and 30 more DUIs before they take your license away. Vehicular Manslaughter gets their attention on occasion. Or you could learn to speak spanish and just drive without a license or insurance.
 
Anything is worth a try. I would try to referrence some other cases if possible and use whatever info that you can dig up in referrence to the penalties to show that you have done your share of time and explain the situation about trying to stay gainfully employed and the hardship without wheels and if nothing else come accross with the acceptance of knowing that you were wrong to have done it and want to put that part of your life behind you and want to start a new leaf. I have not been in your situation but that would be how I would try to tackle it if I were in your shoes. Hope I haven't overstepped things here but I would like to see you get a second chance and I wish you all the best. You have been a tremendous help to a lot of people to not only us fellow nuts but a lot of other people in a situation that you could have just turned around and said f you and get lost. I hope it works out for you sooner than later. :helpme: Just my 2 cents. Gary
 
It just might be a very good idea.
I've kinda wondered why you still don't have a license after all those years - thought maybe it was something not spoken of.

The worst they can do is turn you down, right?

It's worth a shot. Maybe an anonymous phone call to a newspaper might gain some worthwhile attention to your case? The power of the press might work for you.

I don't think you'll have any problems convincing them you're a likeable guy. You've convinced all of us.
 
Do you have any friends/collegues in local gov't/police/sheriff/state police/clergy who would sign off on a letter stating what a fine upstanding citizen you've been these past years and how you've been punished more than others in similar situations?
The same letters modified and sent to the director of the DLAD, Sec of State and Governor is worth a shot.
 
If you can find anyone with similar offenses, and lighter sentances, you could have a valid precedent for a reversal. At worst, they say no, and you have to wait it out. Can't hurt to try....
 
LOL! I was just reading Appendix F of this DLAD document.

It says:
"There are other things you should provide to show that you have stopped drinking or using drugs. These are:
  1. • Sign-in sheets, letters, or other evidence that shows that you are attending a support group. (Example: Alcoholics Anonymous.) "
How many Anonymous organizations have sign in sheets!?!
Do they all say "John Doe" ??

Jass, it seems that a well crafted letter would be in order.
That documents say you have the right to appeal after 1 year of suspension. Sure, it doesn't mean you'll win, but I gotta think that unless you show up pissed to the gills with a steering wheel around your neck, they've got to take your appeal seriously - especially after repeated appeals. Sounds like they haven't been - or just don't care.
A letter might put some heat in their seats.
 
dodgechargerfan said:
That documents say you have the right to appeal after 1 year of suspension.
Click to expand...
Yeah, except they fail to mention the part about "unless we have decided to deny your right to appeal until five years from the date of your last traffic conviction" which is exactly what they've done to me. Even so, had I not gotten my DWLS in '03, I still would not have been eligible to appeal until April of next year by some magical decision-making process by someone in Lansing.

As far as the DLAD, I have no hope there since I've never heard of anyone, anywhere who's gotten their license back without being able to prove 15+ years alcohol-free through the DLAD.

However, those poor saps don't know that once the DLAD has turned you down, you can then go through the local court system to get it back... but therein lies the trick. MI law will not allow you to attempt license retrieval through the courts until the DLAD turns you down. So if, as in my case, the DLAD won't even listen to your appeal, then you can't go through the courts.

Without getting too much into the balance of the three branches of government, this law flies in the face of the U.S. Constitution. However, since DUI has been demonized as the greatest crime since slashing your best friend's throat while anally raping his mother, no one is willing to actually prove that point in a court of law... hell, even the ACLU won't touch it.
 
That bites. Your letter should address that injustice.
I remember you posting a bit about this before and how DLAD was a dead avenue. It sounds like you'd have a good rights violation case against them. Not that I'm suggesting you actually DO that - but maybe the suggestion of it to them will at least get you your chance to get things going in the right direction.
 
I would think that by refusing to hear your appeal, they are turning you down, and saying "we ain't gonna listen or help you". At which point I would attempt whatever other avenues there are to be heard....
 
One would think that, mr122, but common sense and the man-in-the-street's government seem to be increasingly mutually exclusive.
 
LOL @ mr122. He does have a 340 too doesn't he? I think you are long overdue for writing a letter. If the governor can pardon crooked politicians and murderers, why not you? Oh and it wouldn't hurt to tell him he is the bestest governor ever :shifty: Good luck and I sincerely hope you get some justice because I feel like you have more than paid your debt in this case. Hell we have an indian up albuquerque way that was drunk driving, going the wrong way down the fucking interstate and took out a whole family. He is out of prison now :doh:
 
74DartSport said:
Do you have any friends/collegues in local gov't/police/sheriff/state police/clergy who would sign off on a letter stating what a fine upstanding citizen you've been these past years and how you've been punished more than others in similar situations?
The same letters modified and sent to the director of the DLAD, Sec of State and Governor is worth a shot.
Click to expand...

I think 74DS is on the right track, numerous letters from people of all walks of life. If you're remotely acquainted with any attorneys or judges, whether they're municipal or circuit, ask them to write a letter. Remember, polititions ARE lawyers too.

Write up a petition stating that you were "unjustly sentenced" in comparison to numerous others convicted of similar offenses, and fill it with hundreds of signatures.

Every name on the petition is a potential voter to a politition. :hmmm:
 
69.5CUDA said:
is it not posible to get atleast a hardship lic?...as in only able to drive to and from work?
Click to expand...
That's all I want--a chance to prove that I'm worthy of a full license by running a restricted one for as long as necessary... but I can't get anything until the DLAD hears my appeal. They've put that off until Sept 25, 2008. They won't listen to anything until then.

Good idea, 74DS and 68... however, I don't want to get anything from the judges who would potentially hear my case if/when the time comes, because then they would have to recuse themselves from the bench. However, with my Dad having been involved with the law his whole life, I do know a number of people in good positions to write letters that could carry some weight.
 
Gotta agree with the above about getting some good law/cop type references. I've seen it help others out of what should have been impossible circumstances before.

I would shoot for forcing the DLAD to hear the appeal. Win or loose, after that you have the option to appeal like you said, and may be able to swing a full licence through that way.

Good luck with it! I'm glad to hear you've decided to stop just accepting the shit they've handed you
 
Oh I feel your pain, I'm fighting a similar situation. Right now I'm driving on a judges stay order, waiting for the next shoe to drop. I have friends who got thier DUI after I got mine, and they are already in the clear, no classes, no suspension, just fines and time in the orange jump suit. I've done the jail, the classes, group counciling, AA, the whole bit. It's like the DMV knows that most people fall through the cracks, and they make up for it on the ones that don't. The only advice I have is, if you're not a registered voter, register if you're eligble, sometimes they check. Good luck

And I should add, with your writing ability, a calm, professional, no rants or whining, statement of the facts, should get a fair evaluation form any Govenor's office.
 
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Network and reserach, aside from stating your unjust case. Hell, it seems sex offenders get off easier than you, sad.

Definetly network with the people you know, get a petion going, research simular cases, and even some not related (man kills family, gets 5years probation, stupid shit like that). The other thing is that they look at how many other convictions you have. I could run out there, piss drunk, cause and accident, and they'ed go easy on me since its my first offence, so sadly, thats another thing they look at, because they automaticly assume, that since you have a "destructinve criminal background", you're liable to do it again unless you have proof of self-betterment like AA meetings, rehab centers (but ironicly, don't you usually have to drive to those?). But the suspended licence thing is a good idea. Definetly bring that up to show them that you are willing to be resctricted to SHOW their asses that yes, you have turned a new leaf in your life, and to ease the burden on the ones you love, you'd like to take responsibilty for your actions rightfully so. Maybe even state you'd be willing to go to AA meetings or do comunity service...you're probably going to have to barter with the bastards before they even give you an ear.

But thats just my two cents, most of which i seem to have stated what has already been said, the final thoughts and actions are still up to you...if i lived closer (i know, its only one state away), i'd bitch slap the govener for you (what am i gonna get? Its my first offence :D ), but, this was, sadly, brought on by your actions, so show them that, you know you have done wrong, and you're ready to take responcibilty for your actions (like you haven't already).

Whatever the outcome, i wish you good luck and Godspeed :bravo:
 
Man thats some draconian laws you guys have back there. Had an ex brother in law get 5-6 dui's here in the early 90's before they labeled him a habitual offender, he did 18 month's in the county jail and got a license back after a year and a half after release.

I would stock up on the heavy hitter letters and any present or past employers letters (eg. "PP has not beat down a dumb customer this week") and maybe try approaching a local state legislator's office for a little push.

Good luck bud.;)
 
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