Q:  Hi there, I am trying to obtain my drivers license back, I have about 6 tickets in collections I believe and I wanted some advice on how I can get this process started to reinstate my license?

A: Thanks for your interest in my services, but I do not handle cases where a person needs help reinstating a driver’s license because of unpaid traffic ticket fees. It is not financially beneficial to pay an attorney fee if you are unable to pay court fines. I can give you some brief advice in how to address this type of problem yourself without an attorney:

1. Order your driving record with DOL, website dol.wa.gov and search driving records. That way you will see what traffic tickets are causing a license hold. Those tickets are in the failure to appear (FTA) portion at the top of your driving abstract.

2. Contact each court for each case that is in FTA status. Many courts have a re licensing program apart from collections. King County District Court for example will consolidate all cases within the same jurisdiction into a single repayment program. You can call the court and ask about the process in getting into a re-licensing program. Usually the judge will lower fines, allow for community service to pay off fines, waive any interest, pull the balance from collections, or waive fines all together. 

3. Once the license holds are removed, you can go to DOL and pay a reinstatement fee to get a new valid drivers license. Please note, your license will not be valid until the reinstatement fee is paid with DOL and you get a new license card, even though you have paid any outstanding fines causing a license hold. 

If you are having licensing complications other than with fines due to unpaid traffic tickets, just let me know and I am happy to help.