Q: Can a city prevent you from reinstating your license if you can’t pay for your OWI property damage?
Last year, I got an OWI. My insurance made it clear they don’t cover any damages caused by OWI, & there was no court order on property damage restitution. I immediately paid my fines & served out 6 months of probation.
Early this year, I received 3 letters from a local law firm representing the city. They stated I caused $3000 in damages but they wanted to collect $8000 for their insurance deductible.
I haven’t heard from them in months &, since September, I’ve been hesitant to try reinstating my license. I know I caused the damage but I can’t pay them right now. I get 100% financial support for needs from family/friends b/c i’m a full-time caregiver for my severely disabled, elderly Mom & SAHM of a my son with Autism.
To pay what I owe them, it would be necessary for me to temporarily place my Mom in skilled nursing facility & have my license to be able to get to work.
Can they legally do this, however, or are they maybe betting on my naïveté & trying to intimidate me?
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