Since July 13 2015, I have had a Safe Harbor Interlock system on my vehicle per instructed by Peoria Courts insistence. It was indicated to me that it could be required for up to a years time unless you qualified for the six month deferment. In m y research, I found that as long as there were no violations, was always maintained by the facility on time and as required, that I was a perfect candidate for the deferment program.
Since there isn’t any one person to inform, guide, or teach you about the intricacies of having a DUI experience, I relied mainly on the internet for any type of direction. It is vague, misleading, and very easy to misstep, as no-one tells you what is coming next or who to call when something isn’t quite clear. I have randomly had my license suspended now twice for issues I didn’t even know I was guilty of, and it is so confusing! I was informed I had the first suspension because I hadn’t taken a drivers course, one that - in any of my paperwork - was never mentioned or even hinted at. Once I hurriedly found a class I could take and reinstate my license, I paid the $120 fee and took the course. Checked the “surprise” course off of a very long and contorted list of things I didn’t even know I needed to do to get me closer to the end!
The next step (or so I assumed), was to wait for the Arizona Motor Vehicle Department to send me the long awaited letter regarding my deferment qualifications. At my last Safe Harbor appointment, they indicated that I seemed to qualify for the deferment program, as I had not had any violations and had been diligent about keeping my appointments, so he never made my follow up appointment, which he always does. It made me feel hopeful that the Interlock device and restricted license and driving privileges would soon be back to normal. I was very excited, and would not do anything to jeopardize my situation whatsoever.
While awaiting news from the Motor Vehicle Department, my Interlock device began its appointment countdown, meaning at the end of the 7 day countdown, it would be impossible to start my vehicle. Confused and anxious, I called the AZMVD on February 9 to inquire what was happening and what other steps I needed to take next. I spoke with a woman who indicated to me that my 6 month deferment was due on February 13, and that I was lacking my certificate of completion for my alcohol education classes I took from Western Judicial Services. She indicated that it was the only thing missing from my list of requirements, and that I could simply FAX it to ********** and then it would take 5-7 days for the letter to reach me. Since I was going out of town the weekend of February 12-15, I called Safe Harbor immediately after to ensure I wouldn’t be locked out before I received the confirmation of my deferment and permission to have it removed. I spoke to Jason Lewallen at Safe Harbor, someone I have gotten familiar with in my numerous checkup appointments. I explained to him that I hadn’t received the deferment letter yet, but that the appointment “countdown” had begun. Because I didn’t want to be locked out in a town two hours away, He made an appointment for me to come in on the 19th of February for a checkup/possible removal. He stated that, since I had no violations and that I spoke to a person at the MVD that insisted I was in compliance with all of my requirements, that all I would need to provide him with was proof that I could go online and reorder my drivers license. He was very adamant that if I could renew my license online, that it was proof to his company that I qualified for the deferment program.
I went out of town for the weekend, and found that my young nephew had passed away early Monday (15th) morning. I returned to Peoria that evening, and began getting my family ready for the funeral and the events leading up to it. I kept my appointment on February 19, 2016 and Mr. Lewallen removed my device from my car. I emailed him proof of my duplicate license receipt, and we paid the fees to Safe Harbor. He indicated that as soon as I received the letter of deferment from the AZMVD to email a copy to him.
Having traveled back to Payson to be with family during a very upsetting and tragic time, I had my husband check the mail every day while I was away. Nothing from the MVD ever came. The funeral was on Saturday, February 27, 2016, and I returned home Tuesday to find a letter in the mail from the AZMVD which I thought was my deferment letter finally. Unfortunately, it was a letter of corrective action, stating that I was in violation of my court order by having my interlock device removed. I was shocked and completely upset, to say the least! I would NEVER compromise my license and driving privileges, and am very confused why this is happening. I called AZMVD today, March 2, 2016 and spoke to Audrey. She informed me that because I didn’t *electronically* send my certificate to them that it wasn’t considered valid. I explained to her I was only doing what I was told by the other employee of the MVD. She put me on hold to speak with her supervisor after I insisted I was told to merely FAX the information to the number I indicated above. She returned to the line and agreed that her coworker did, indeed, say that I needed to just FAX it, so she apologized but stated that “you should have come into the Motor Vehicle offices to make sure all requirements were met”. I explained to her that - not only was I not told any of this and did do exactly what was asked of me - I was out of town for a funeral and simply couldn’t have made it in. She apologized, and suggested I file for a hearing regarding this issue. Also, she asked me to contact Western Judicial Services to have them electronically send my certificate to the AZMVD. I called WJS and spoke to Diana, who is happy to resend the information again. It will be done by Thursday, March 3 at the latest.
As of today, March 2, 2016, I am expected to pay for the reinstallation of a device I was instructed to remove. My license is suspended AGAIN for the second time because of a series of miscommunications and missteps. I am completely and utterly confused as to why this situation has escalated into this travesty, as I would always comply to any and all requirements insisted upon me to clear and reinstate not only my license but my sanity.
I am shocked at how many rules and regulations and seemingly hidden hoops I have had to jump through during this process! I am generally a very good driver, an excellent law-abiding citizen who happened to have made a mistake by driving my car home after a concert I attended where I drank alcohol. Since I had to have a valid working drivers license for my job, I had to leave my position of three years and have struggled since to pay all the fines to the courts, the license reinstatement fees, the interlock monthly payments, as well as the increase in my insurance premiums - not to mention the classes and courses that were required. I did not follow every law and every rule expected of me only to make it worse by taking it out prematurely, I assure you.
Please : help me! I have accepted another position of employment but cannot go back to work if this is still a lingering problem.
Arizona Department of Transportation Reviews
Since July 13 2015, I have had a Safe Harbor Interlock system on my vehicle per instructed by Peoria Courts insistence. It was indicated to me that it could be required for up to a years time unless you qualified for the six month deferment. In m y research, I found that as long as there were no violations, was always maintained by the facility on time and as required, that I was a perfect candidate for the deferment program.
Since there isn’t any one person to inform, guide, or teach you about the intricacies of having a DUI experience, I relied mainly on the internet for any type of direction. It is vague, misleading, and very easy to misstep, as no-one tells you what is coming next or who to call when something isn’t quite clear. I have randomly had my license suspended now twice for issues I didn’t even know I was guilty of, and it is so confusing! I was informed I had the first suspension because I hadn’t taken a drivers course, one that - in any of my paperwork - was never mentioned or even hinted at. Once I hurriedly found a class I could take and reinstate my license, I paid the $120 fee and took the course. Checked the “surprise” course off of a very long and contorted list of things I didn’t even know I needed to do to get me closer to the end!
The next step (or so I assumed), was to wait for the Arizona Motor Vehicle Department to send me the long awaited letter regarding my deferment qualifications. At my last Safe Harbor appointment, they indicated that I seemed to qualify for the deferment program, as I had not had any violations and had been diligent about keeping my appointments, so he never made my follow up appointment, which he always does. It made me feel hopeful that the Interlock device and restricted license and driving privileges would soon be back to normal. I was very excited, and would not do anything to jeopardize my situation whatsoever.
While awaiting news from the Motor Vehicle Department, my Interlock device began its appointment countdown, meaning at the end of the 7 day countdown, it would be impossible to start my vehicle. Confused and anxious, I called the AZMVD on February 9 to inquire what was happening and what other steps I needed to take next. I spoke with a woman who indicated to me that my 6 month deferment was due on February 13, and that I was lacking my certificate of completion for my alcohol education classes I took from Western Judicial Services. She indicated that it was the only thing missing from my list of requirements, and that I could simply FAX it to ********** and then it would take 5-7 days for the letter to reach me. Since I was going out of town the weekend of February 12-15, I called Safe Harbor immediately after to ensure I wouldn’t be locked out before I received the confirmation of my deferment and permission to have it removed. I spoke to Jason Lewallen at Safe Harbor, someone I have gotten familiar with in my numerous checkup appointments. I explained to him that I hadn’t received the deferment letter yet, but that the appointment “countdown” had begun. Because I didn’t want to be locked out in a town two hours away, He made an appointment for me to come in on the 19th of February for a checkup/possible removal. He stated that, since I had no violations and that I spoke to a person at the MVD that insisted I was in compliance with all of my requirements, that all I would need to provide him with was proof that I could go online and reorder my drivers license. He was very adamant that if I could renew my license online, that it was proof to his company that I qualified for the deferment program.
I went out of town for the weekend, and found that my young nephew had passed away early Monday (15th) morning. I returned to Peoria that evening, and began getting my family ready for the funeral and the events leading up to it. I kept my appointment on February 19, 2016 and Mr. Lewallen removed my device from my car. I emailed him proof of my duplicate license receipt, and we paid the fees to Safe Harbor. He indicated that as soon as I received the letter of deferment from the AZMVD to email a copy to him.
Having traveled back to Payson to be with family during a very upsetting and tragic time, I had my husband check the mail every day while I was away. Nothing from the MVD ever came. The funeral was on Saturday, February 27, 2016, and I returned home Tuesday to find a letter in the mail from the AZMVD which I thought was my deferment letter finally. Unfortunately, it was a letter of corrective action, stating that I was in violation of my court order by having my interlock device removed. I was shocked and completely upset, to say the least! I would NEVER compromise my license and driving privileges, and am very confused why this is happening. I called AZMVD today, March 2, 2016 and spoke to Audrey. She informed me that because I didn’t *electronically* send my certificate to them that it wasn’t considered valid. I explained to her I was only doing what I was told by the other employee of the MVD. She put me on hold to speak with her supervisor after I insisted I was told to merely FAX the information to the number I indicated above. She returned to the line and agreed that her coworker did, indeed, say that I needed to just FAX it, so she apologized but stated that “you should have come into the Motor Vehicle offices to make sure all requirements were met”. I explained to her that - not only was I not told any of this and did do exactly what was asked of me - I was out of town for a funeral and simply couldn’t have made it in. She apologized, and suggested I file for a hearing regarding this issue. Also, she asked me to contact Western Judicial Services to have them electronically send my certificate to the AZMVD. I called WJS and spoke to Diana, who is happy to resend the information again. It will be done by Thursday, March 3 at the latest.
As of today, March 2, 2016, I am expected to pay for the reinstallation of a device I was instructed to remove. My license is suspended AGAIN for the second time because of a series of miscommunications and missteps. I am completely and utterly confused as to why this situation has escalated into this travesty, as I would always comply to any and all requirements insisted upon me to clear and reinstate not only my license but my sanity.
I am shocked at how many rules and regulations and seemingly hidden hoops I have had to jump through during this process! I am generally a very good driver, an excellent law-abiding citizen who happened to have made a mistake by driving my car home after a concert I attended where I drank alcohol. Since I had to have a valid working drivers license for my job, I had to leave my position of three years and have struggled since to pay all the fines to the courts, the license reinstatement fees, the interlock monthly payments, as well as the increase in my insurance premiums - not to mention the classes and courses that were required. I did not follow every law and every rule expected of me only to make it worse by taking it out prematurely, I assure you.
Please : help me! I have accepted another position of employment but cannot go back to work if this is still a lingering problem.