I was given a ticket for a dead inspection sticker on a vehicle that I had just gotten back on the road after 2 years (it needed an engine). The garage told me that the engine had a short warrantee and was very important to drive it as much as I could (after sitting for 2 years...lots of smoke was coming from it and such). Before driving, I made it legal (of course)...tags/insurance; but when I went to have it inspected--it failed for many reasons. In trying to get these things taken care of--the vehicle had many problems (alternator, batery, wirering issues from engine replacement), so it spent most of the warrantee time in the shop, so it was difficult to get the things done to get it to inspection (it needed new tires...too expensive for a vehicle that I did not know would stay running long enough to support the expense--looked for used--not plentiful: popular size, economy--lots of people were buying used to save $$--so I was told concerning the difficulty finding the tires).
Had the court hearing and had not been able to have it inspected. I explained why and the difficulties that I had in pursuing this...it didn't matter. I was found guilty. In Va. we have 2 weeks to get our fines paid. In that time, my grandmother passed very unexpectedly, so needless to say, I was in Kentucky attending her funeral when my fines came due. Since they were not paid, my license was suspended. I am NOW facing about $135 in fines/court costs, and a $145 or $175 reinstatement fee------------for a $16 sticker! I have NOTHING else on my record, not one moving violation, yet my license is suspended for a heck of a price! This is EXCESSIVE PUNISHMENT AND FINES!! My point is that this is rediculous, especially that after doing some research, if you throw "FARM USE" tags on your vehicle (which a lot of people do), not only do you NOT have to HAVE it INSPECTED...you DO NOT have to carry insurance either. This is absurd that the 'legal' person should have to pay such a "DEBT" just because they were in a hardship, but others do not have to even worry about an inspection at all.
Please sign this petition to help bring our courts back to justice...I know many of us have been treated unfairly in the court system. We have no rights anymore, and no one is willing to stand up for our Constitution. Thank you in advance!!!!
