Expert: Jason Grabill - 11/19/2003

Question

I HAVE A QUESTION TO ASK;

QUICK BACKGROUND INFO:
I'AM A 43 YEAR OLD ADULT MALE,
I'AM  TECHICALLY RESIDENT OF MONTANA AND HAVE A MONTANA DRIVERS'S LISENCE, BUT I LIVE IN WYOMING FOR 15 YEARS, I HAVE NEVER TURNED IN MY MONTANA DRIVERS LISENCE TO WYOMING, FOR RESIDENCY.
.
NOW:
I SWEAR I SHOULD HAVE 4- “D.U.I.'S AND 1- “B.U.I.” PLUSS NUMEROIUS STATE PARK VIOLATIONS: DEALLING WITH CAMPING AND HAVE NEVER BEEN WRITTEN A TICKET, NOT ONCE!
BEFORE I MOVED MY RESIDENCY TO MONTANA I WAS A WYOMING RESIDENT AND HAD MY LISCENED REVOKED(AS A TEENAGER, TOO MANY TICKETS AND ACCIDENTS) .
I'AM NOT BRAGGING, BUT THIS HAS BUGGED ME FOR SOME TIME NOW! EVER SINCE I MOVED BACK TO WYOMING 15 YEARS, I HAVE NEVER BEEN ISSUED A TICKET, NOT EVEN ONCE!
ALTHOUGH I HAVE BEEN STOPPED MANY, MANY TIMES, CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME WHY WYOMING WILL NOT WRITE ME UP OR EVEN TAKE ME TO JAIL?
I WAS EVEN  WITH A BUNCH OF FRIENDS FROM COLORADO AND PARTYING AT A WYOMING LAKE, ALL THE COLORADO GUYS GOT TICKETS, WHILE I JUST GOT A VERBAL WARRNING!
SOMEBODY TOLD ME THAT MONTANA DOES NOT HAVE A “TICKET RESIPROCITY AGREEMENT” WITH WYOMING, THEREFORE WRITING ME A TICKET WOULD BE FUTILE FOR THE WYOMING OFFICER?

I HAVE E-MAILED EXPERTS INCLUDING: HIGHWAY PATROLMAN, PATROL OFFICERS, LAWYERS FROM OFF THE INTERNET AND THEY ALL SAY THAT I'M “JUST LUCKY” THAT IF THEY HAD STOPPED ME THAT I WOULD DEFINITELY BEEN TICKETED!

I'AM NOT EXAGGERATING!  THIS REALLY BUGGS ME?


Answer
Dean:

  To me, it sounds like since your problems of many years ago, you've had enough experience with cops to know how to act when you get stopped.  That is probably part of the reason why you haven't been ticketed.

  Montana does not belong to the interstate compact, so info is not shared with other states.   Writing you a ticket wouldn't be 'futile', as you put it, but depending on the infraction and your attitude, (which gets more people tickets than not) the officer may just decide its not worth the hassle.

  However, I'd say that if you are a frequent visitor, then your privledge to drive could easily be suspended in that state if you get enough points;  then it won't matter what license you have, suspended is suspended.

  One other thing;  northeast states, based on our heavy volume of traffic, tend to be lots more hard core with minor traffic violations than do states out west, I'm told.  Things that in Maryland would get you stopped/ticketed/& perhaps arrested, would not even merit a second glance from a Wyoming Deputy Sheriff.  That theory makes sense, and perhaps explains your situation as well.

  I'd encourage you, if your license is in fact suspended in one of the ajoining states, to fix the problem if possible.  If not, sure enough, when you least expect it, some rookie copper will pull you over, and arrest you (for something minor) and you'll have to bond out of jail, hire lawyers, etc.   Not worth the trouble.

 Good luck!

  Jason