Monday I had to go down to the department of Motor Vehicles (or as it’s
called in Arkansas "The Revenue office for the department of Finance and
Administration") to get my address updated on my license.  Now
normally there wouldn’t be a need to do this, but I am sending something to the
F.B.I. and to the Arkansas State Police and it has to match my driver’s license
to the letter.

Well this is where it all went to hell.  After what felt like an hour of
waiting, they call my number and I walk to the counter.  I tell the lady
what I want to do and hand her my license.  Almost instantaneously, she
tells me, "Your license is suspended". 

    "What the hell", I said.  I couldn’t
imagine why on Earth my license would be suspended.
She gave me a number to call, and of course I call immediately.  It turns
out I had failed to appear in Court in Pine Bluff, Arkansas for a speeding
ticket I had gotten on August 3, 2002.  Can you believe it? There’s no
telling for how long my license was suspended.  I would have continued on
until next year before realizing my license was suspended. (next year is when my
license expires)

Well, on the way home I managed to pick up another speeding ticket.  Oh,
did I mention it was my birthday? Yeah that’s right. On my birthday, I found out
my license was suspended and I got a ticket.
By the way, when you fail to appear in court, the put out a warrant for your
arrest.  I’m damn glad I didn’t tell the nice police lady that my license
was suspended.  I’m also glad she didn’t run my license to check its
status. 

That same day, I sent a check for $300 to Pine Bluff by registered mail to pay
for the warrant and court costs.  What a pain in the ……

Today, I cleared it all up, save this new ticket I have to take care
of.  It took me the better part of an hour and a half to do it
though.  I had to call Pine Bluff, get them to fax the release form to
Little Rock and to the "Driver Control" office. Then I had to pay a
$25 dollar reinstatement fee (Thanks goes out to Grandma for the birthday
gift–it came in handy granny.).  It took the Pine Bluff and Little Rock
Revenue office at least 45 minutes to get their crap together though.

After that, I was finally able to get my address updated.  After ten
minutes, I had my new license in hand.  Oh but wait–they got the address
wrong.  I had to wait in line again, let her know the address was
wrong.  She accused me at first of writing it down wrong.  She was
quickly humbled when we found the original sheet where I had plainly written the
address.  She keyed it incorrectly.  I know where I live. 
I write the address all the stinking time.  I’m no idiot.

I’m sure there’ll be more to this saga, but for now that’s it.  I’ll
find out how much the ticket costs tomorrow.