Civil Cases

Civil Judgments - Driver's License Suspension

If you have been sued by someone for money, and they have a Judgment against you, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet can suspend your license. John worked for years for the banks and knows how the debt collection industry works. The KYTC can suspend your license until the entire judgment is paid, unless you seek help. Contact John for advice on how to get your license back after a civil judgment suspension.

Kentucky's Financial Responsibility Laws | K.R.S. § 187.410 & K.R.S. § 187.420

Kentucky’s Financial Responsibility Law states that on receipt of an unpaid judgment, the Cabinet will suspend the driver’s license and registration of any person against whom the judgment was rendered. K.R.S. § 187.410. The License remains suspended until the judgment is stayed, satisfied, or discharged K.R.S. § 187.420.

The Exception for Suspension for Nonpayment of Judgment | K.R.S. § 187.410

(1) Upon the receipt of a certified copy of a judgment, the cabinet shall forthwith suspend (except as provided in KRS 187.440) the license and registration and the nonresident’s operating privilege of any person against whom such judgment was rendered.

(2) If the judgment creditor consents in writing, in such form as the cabinet prescribes, that the judgment debtor be allowed license and registration or nonresident’s operating privilege, the same may be allowed by the cabinet, in its discretion, for six (6) months from the date of such consent and thereafter until such consent is revoked in writing, notwithstanding default in the payment of such judgment, or of any installments thereof prescribed in KRS 187.440.

Duration of Driver’s License Suspension | K.R.S. § 187.420

Such license, registration, and non-resident’s operating privilege shall (except as provided in KRS 187.440) remain so suspended and shall not be renewed, nor shall any such license or registration be thereafter issued in the name of such person, including any such person not previously licensed, unless and until every such judgment is stayed, satisfied or discharged.

What should I do if I have a warrant?

In some cases, you can have a warrant and not even know it. Perhaps it’s from an old traffic violation you forgot about, or you were hunting or fishing without a license and received a citation. You may have resolved your case, but never finished paying a fine or court costs. You may have not even known you owed a fine or court costs. In any event:

• Contact John immediately; even if you think you may not be able to afford one. You want to understand why you have a warrant.
• Until the warrant is resolved (or at least recalled), you do not want to travel by air.
• Until the warrant is resolved (or at least recalled), you do not want to drive a car that is registered in your name.
• Until the warrant is resolved (or at least recalled), you do not want to attempt to enter a military base.
• Talk with a loved one about care for children and setting bond money aside, in the event you are arrested on the warrant. 

An attorney can help navigate the delicate situation with the least amount of interruption to your life. 

What should I do if I have an FTA or Failure to Appear?

An FTA or Failure to Appear means that you are due in Court but won’t be arrested if you’re pulled over during a traffic stop. Usually, it means the case is unresolved in some fashion. But an FTA can turn into a warrant if left unattended for long enough. If your FTA has turned into a warrant, contact John as soon as possible.