The Tragic DMV Error


(7/20/02: This text is getting pretty old and some things have changed, but the feelings the errors at the DMV provoked have not changed. I am currently working part-time at the Brush News-Tribune, and Mike [he’s 13 now and that means he prefers to be called Mike, not Michael] is getting Social Security and Medicaid for his conditions, but the money I have doesn’t go far, and the only thing to save me from financial collapse was the death of my mother in December of 2000. I and my siblings have truly been living off the proceeds of the sale of the properties she owned. My “job” does not provide living income … like I said, some of the circustances may have changed in the last few years, but the pain and suffering do not go away. And things really haven’t gotten any better!)
I have an issue with the DMV.
Because of ERRORS and arrogance at the Department of Motor Vehicles, I have lost my job. I am not being allowed to drive, even though DMV rules on suspensions require hearing officers to consider all mitigating circumstances. They will not consider ANY of the hardships.
Well, I am surviving.
Today.
I have not found another job yet.
(note: as of April 14, 2000, I began working at a much lower wage painting at a local extended care facility. Working and still starving is not my career goal. I left that place of emplyment in December of 2000, when a mid-level supervisor inserted lies into my file. I have been working at the Brush News-Tribune since January 2001, still for little pay, but I can walk to work and enjoy what I do, for the most part.)

It will be nearly impossible to find anything in this area without being able to drive to the work. In Brush, you can't just jump on the #12 bus downtown, and the jobs in downtown Brush are very few and far between, and pay not enough to live on.

I had a hearing 3-20-2000 with the DMV in Fort Morgan. Unfortunately, this hearing was only allowed to be about the extension of my suspension. I tried to show the hearing officer that although I had taken care of my voter registration at the DL office and the county had my full, correct mailing address at the Post Office Box, somehow the DMV had failed to keep the P O box on file. He said that because the records that prooved this were not DMV records, they could not be allow as proof of the error in a DMV hearing. Well, DUH! If the DMV records are in error, of course the error cannot be proven using DMV records!

In protest of the stupidity of the DMV, I am now on a hunger strike/fast. I have had the leftovers from my sons food, but no meals since 3/20. I am drinking water and juice, taking my whole-food vitamins and I ate one slice of dry bread each evening until the loaf I had on the shelf ran out last week. I have been eating occassional bites of peanut butter (which I do not like) and jam. The director of the DMV is aware of this and supposedly had a meeting 3-24 with the supervisors of the hearing officers I have met with so far (two in Denver and the one here). I have heard nothing back as of 4/11/2000.

I have contacted some attorneys. No-one will do it pro-bono, or to be paid later when I get a job (suprise, suprise). Legal aid and the ACLU will not handle this case.

I had a pre-trial hearing on Wednesday 3/29. The DA had said that if I got my "red" license, he would drop the charge of driving while suspended. I guess it is going to have to go to trial. Perhaps the court will accept county records as evidence, even though the DMV doesn’t. One good (good?) thing...I have qualified for a public defender.
The DMV didn’t cooperate, and the DA was anxious to increase his conviction rate, but the two have unintentionally cooperated with each other (I really wonder how unintentional this has all been. But then, that would stink too much of conspiracy and would lead too many others to think I might be paranoid...I’ll drop it now and let you draw your own conclusions) to delay this trial until the last day to qualify under the speedy trial rules. The new judge is upset with the DMV as well due to their lack of cooperation with the court. I am hopeful that when this charge of driving while suspended is beaten, the judge will at least order the suspension reduced to the original time it was instituted for points, and drop the stupid extra year.

So I fast.
Again, I feel fine.
It doesn’t even seem as though I have lost much weight these past few months. But, I have lost my chosen career. I cannot find profitable work out here without a driver’s license. The work I am doing now is not desireable nor well paid. I will not be able to pay my rent or Public Service bill or phone bill or taxes or anything else. Well, at least the new job pays the rent and groceries for my son, and the insurance and registration on my car (that I don’t drive). But everyone else will have to wait.

Due to fines, expenses, and such, I am totally broke right now!
If there is any way anyone can help, I certainly would appreciate it! The best way to help is by flooding the DMV, the legislature, and the governor’s office with as much show of support for this type of cause as possible.

I don’t know if anyone will ever see this page
If you do, and want to help, let me know ... Send an e-mail to:
tom@blickhahn.us
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look quickly at what I have linked to below, especially: I Speak



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