Loophole
My auto insurance has ended this month, and I need to get a new one. Since I still cannot get my driver's license reinstated, I have my brother sent me the International Driving Permit. I know it's expensive to use permit to buy insurance, because I've been there. However it maybe is a good choice for me right now. For those three tickets, I probably will get over 10 points on my record. If I use International Driving Permit, the insurance company will only put 4 points in their policy. So, it may will cheaper than using state issued licence. Ha, a loophole.
Traffic Law
Because I am struggling with tickets and license problems recently, I started to look for information about the traffic law that I didn't know about. I found following information that may be helpful for myself and those people who unfamiliar with the traffic laws. (Most of the links lead to websites contain information of traffic laws in Indiana, but many other states also apply.)
1. Driver Improvement Program
You can take the course voluntarily, and you can earn 4 credit points on your driving record. There are many institute provide this kind of service, and some say you can even get discount from your auto insurance company.
2. Drivers License Compact
Many people (especially international students)thought that traffic tickets receive from other states will not affect their driving record in Indy. That's wrong. Because of the Driveres License Compact, many states now share information. (My license got suspended because of the ticket got from TN is an example.)
The website provides some valuable information about the traffic laws
Guide to Misc. Traffic Laws(Brad Cuppy's Web Page)
Bad luck
I think I really had a bad luck recently. I've run a red light and stopped by the police officer. And then he found that my driver's license has been suspended. So, he gave me two tickets; one for running the red light, the other for driving while suspended. Then the officer had some one towed away my car, and left me at the road side. (Gee, it's around 11:00 pm, and he just left me there and told me there is a pay phone and call your friend to pick you up.)
I went to BMV next day and asked them what happened to my license, and they said it's because I failed to pay a ticket in Tennesee. Yeah, I know that ticke, a speeding ticket. I tried to get the information about how to pay it, but I couldn't. I tried several times and still couldn't get it, therefore I thought there maybe some kind of problem in there communication. Then I just stopped trying and forgot about it. But who knows it become a problem to me now.
According to the BMV, I have to pay the speeding ticket first and then I will be able to reinstate my license. So, I tried to call again and this time they found it. I guess it's because I told them my first name is Ming.(I told them Ming-Liang before. I guess they think the Liang is the middle name. They always do they, according to Eva. I still don't know what the hell is the middle name for.) So, I need to pay the fine by mailing money order to a court in TN, because there is no pay-by-phone or pay-online there. So, I don't know when will they receive the payment and then notify BMV( or DMV? Whatever...) in TN. Then They will notify the BMV in Indy. I don't know how long it will take, and even the person in the court doesn't know. So, the only thing I can do right now is waiting and call them to see if they hadle it successfully or not.
However, I still need to go to school everyday, and my house is far away from campus. It's not possible for me to get to campus without driving. So, I decided to live in my frined's house. He can drive me to school everyday. I got home a packed some clothes in to my suitcase, but when I got my friend's house and tried to open my suitcase. I couldn't open it. I tried and tried, but it just sealed as a clam. So, the only way I can do was breaking the lock. (Sigh, hope it didn't break my luck.) I hope it's all over now.
Maybe it's all over now, because I got two cokes while I was trying to buy a coke from a vending machine. I hope it's a start of my good luck. There is a Chinese saying goes like this: 否極泰來 (Pee Gee Tai Lai). Which means after you experienced all the deepest, then it's a time for uprising. Because you cannot go deeper.
I am very lucky to have many good friends here. Stephen lets me staying in his place and drives me to school everyday, Eva drove me home at that night, Benson took me to fetch my car, Chatree offered his place and food, and Waew's support.
