I was pulled over about three weeks ago for rolling through a stop sign. I’m absolutely positive I did it, I was late to an appointment, and I’m very aware that when I get rushed I drive a little more erratic.

Cop runs my license and discovers that it was suspended in Virginia (I had kept my Virginia license/registration for a number of reasons) for “lack of insurance.” Cop was also holding a valid insurance card. I think he was slightly entertained by the situation, I was stunned at hearing that my license was suspended and can only imagine how silly my reaction was.

He gave me a ticket with a court date, and waited while a friend of mine picked me up (since I couldn’t drive away with a suspended license) instead of towing my car.

Since then, I have gotten my Virginia license reinstated, have letters from my insurance company in both Virginia and California stating that I am insured, AND got my California license and registration. I also discovered that my license had been suspended due to my Virginia insurance company telling the DMV that I canceled my policy, not that I transferred it out of state. If they think you’re uninsured, your license is automatically suspended.

This morning was my court date. Driving under a suspended license is an “uncorrectable” misdemenor, which means a trip in front of a judge. Waited on a looong line to see the clerk, who discovered that my ticket didn’t exist. From there, I was sent to the city attorney’s office – same, my ticket didn’t exist. The cop never turned it in.

My theory? The cop didn’t really want to ding me for a situation that really was a mistake, Virginia reinstated my license as soon as I faxed them my insurance letters with no questions asked. I still don’t know how long my license was suspended for. I think the cop did, however, did want to give me at least some grief for not registering my car/getting my license when I moved here a year ago. So, he made me spend a day running around the city waiting in lines.

I understand that, and would rather waste a day on lines to verify that I didn’t have anything to do, than worry about standing in front of a judge.

So to whoever that cop was – thank you. I have no idea what would have happened in front of a judge, but I’m very thankful that I don’t have to find out.