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ECSO: Driving Without Valid License Is A Problem; Driver’s License Services In Century Tuesday
February 4, 2019
Driving with a valid driver’s license is a problem in North Escambia, and there’s a local opportunity Tuesday to solve most types of license issues, including regular renewals.
“We stop people all the time without a license. Sometimes they are expired and sometimes they are suspended, a lot of time for failing to fulfill (court ordered) financial obligations,” said Lt. Bart Fryer of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office’s Precinct 6, which covers the area that includes Century, Walnut Hill, Bratt and McDavid. “We are very proactive with traffic enforcement.”
“But a lot of the time, the people with no license have issues they could have taken care of,” he said. “We stop people all the time that have just lost their ID or could have just paid a ticket.”
There is a local opportunity Tuesday for Century area residents to receive driver’s license and motor vehicle services.
Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford has partnered with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to bring the Florida Licensing On Wheels (FLOW) mobile office to Century on Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Billy G. Ward Courthouse at 7500 North Century Boulevard.
FLOW is a stand-alone mobile office with technology to provide most motorists’ needs. The mobile unit provides a convenient method to renew a driver’s license, obtain a replacement driver’s license, conversion or reciprocation of out-of-state license, change a name or address on a current driver’s license or identification card, and get a first-time identification card. In addition to licensing services, the mobile unit also provides an opportunity to renew or replace a vehicle registration and apply, renew or replace disabled parking placards. Written and driving tests are not available from the FLOW unit.
“There’s no reason not to go when this is in your own backyard. It’s easier access for people in the north end,” Fryer said.
In addition, he said, those with more serious issues such as unpaid tickets can easily check their case at the Escambia Count Clerk of Court office inside the courthouse.
“There’s no reason for them to not go and find out what needs to be done to get a valid license,” he said. “If they need it, sometime there is payment plan for financial obligations on cases.”
Citizens using the FLOW services Tuesday are encouraged to visit EscambiaTaxCollector.com and click the “What Do I Bring” button for information on what is needed for these services.
Staff from the tax collector’s office will be on hand to answer all FLOW service questions and questions concerning all other tax collector services such as property tax, business tax receipts, concealed weapons licensing, etc. Citizens also can drop off their property tax payments (checks only).
The driver’s license vehicle will visit Century once per quarter in 2019, according to Escambia County Tax Collector Scott Lunsford.
Pictured above: Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies E. Jackson and B. Ates conduct a traffic stop Friday on Highway 29 at Tedder Road for speeding. Pictured below: A traffic stop at Whataburger in Century Friday due to no tag on a boat trailer. Both drivers had a valid license and received just a warning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
23 Responses to “ECSO: Driving Without Valid License Is A Problem; Driver’s License Services In Century Tuesday”
RC, is there anyway you could be stopped by the police and be ticketed for driving with a suspended license and forget it. Did he forget to go to court for it? There is something missing in this story. He needs help from a friend to manage his life and money. A big brother figure so to speak. To me, it doesn’t sound as if he is able to handle his own affairs. You seem to be the one to help him through this self inflicted problem. I wish you both luck.
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@Morgan , maybe people shouldn’t put themselves in a position to have their DL suspended. And what about the person who has no license hits someone’s car who only has liability insurance and their car doesn’t get fixed, what should they due now, just a thought. Oh people should be aware if you loan your car out to someone with a suspended license you can also be arrested, and if an accident occurs your insurance will not pay out to anyone, read your policy or speak to your agent for yourself.
Morgan, it would have been better for all, if you would have thought before you got in trouble. Now the thought you need to have is how to manage your life for five years without driving. Move close to your job or get a job close to where you live. Get a bicycle with one of those small motors that doesn’t require a drivers license. Your main thought should be is that this is all your fault, nobody else’s.
@ Adam-he went down there and asked what was on record and what he needed-he was told what he had to do to get his license reinstated then they came up with what was “overlooked”.He wasn’t trying to “get away”with anything. The guy is trying to take care of his child and not because a judge said so. I don’t condone wrongdoing but it’s insane to just stand over someone with your foot on their throat- from now on. You can beat someone up with an ink pen worse than a baseball bat. I’m glad it worked out for you and I hope I never get down and out like that because it’s a rough road..
a special THANK YOU to Northescambia for running this story and ESPECIALLY to Scott Lunsford for contacting these people out of Tallahasse and bringing this service here. Met him in person, what a great public servant and hard worker. Escambia County is fortunate to have people like that.
great people working there for him also– taking our money
In and out, renewed and good to go for eight more years.
Much appreciated.
Now if only Escambia County animal control will come get the stray cats in the area and dogs in the Food Giant parking lot and code enforcement remove old campaign signs littering the road since August removed through there.
Hello Tourists..welcome to trashy.
We pay our property taxes all the way to the line..
I hear all these reasons but for some ppl
l including me when u get in trouble for a dwls and they take it for 5 years but u have to go to work to pay em what are ppl to do just a thought
RC, because “They” didn’t see it, doesn’t mean he didn’t know it. He probably figured he was going to get away with it. But never-the-less, what does that have to do with not taking care of your children. I would never have to have a judge tell me to take care of my child. You care about him don’t you, well quit making excuses for him and help him do the right thing. Tell him to get a job, or two, that is in walking or bicycling distance or on a bus route. He put his own self in this situation, not the state. He needs to man up and take care of his child(ren).
A citizen, I was in a predicament myself. I wound up in another state with my girl friend trying to get away from abusive situations we both were in. I found a place to live. I did not have a car. I got a job at an auto dealer as a cleanup boy. Every day for almost a year, I walked out to the highway and stuck my thumb out. People got used to seeing me every morning and it was always someone wanting to know my story and gave me a ride. I wore my shoes out so bad I tried everything from old bath mats to a piece of tin to make soles with. I finally was able to buy a $150 car, tag and required insurance. I continued to better myself a little at a time. Making sure not to waste my meager resources on drugs, alcohol or cigarettes. Don’t tell me about hard times, cause I have dang sure been there.
But that is no excuse to not follow the law.
I know a guy with child support issues-of course his license got suspended.He was told if he paid 3000 to back child support he could get a “Purge?” and be reinstated. He scratched it up and paid it and was then told he had a DWLS ticket (on his way to work) “They didn’t see on the computer” and the judge suspended him another 5 years but “if he got a lawyer and went to court it could be fixed” but that’s 3000 dollars he doesn’t have.And going in front of the judge without a lawyer would be a “Waste of time” Really? I understand driving is a “privilege” but he’s trying so hard to work and no DL makes it almost impossible to get to work. He’s down and out and the state has him in an impossible situation and seems hell bent on keeping him there. SURELY-common sense would dictate that some means -a business purpose license or something so he can work is in order so he can pay his child support-and MAYBE pay his rent and buy some food-Yes,it’s that bad on him.
At Adam, there is no one here on Earth that is Perfect, there are more than you know including you and I that has probably done and said things that haven’t got caught. Just sayin, don’t assume or judge. Rasheed Jackson as for those that has a vehicle or someone that they can depend on its easy to get from point A to point B but for those who do not have a vehicle or anyone to call on, well it could be mighty hard. Don’t take advantage of the good you have. For the most of society, they’re just one paycheck of losing what ghey have becoming homeless. I’m not taking up for the ones who do wrong but I am saying we should try to think before we run off at the mouth.
I’ve never heard of a $15,000 or a $25,0000 fine unless it was restitution of some sort or child support, I’m sure there’s more to Kevin’s story than just traffic tickets. While the van is there all those people who have Alabama Drivers License and Alabama tags who live in Florida may want to take advantage of this, it’s fixing to be strictly enforced.
Kevin Enfinger, Just what part of the Constitution are you referring to when you say, “It’s ridiculous and unconstitutional to bind someone like that.” If you break the law and go to court you are expected to pay the fees associated with the court cost. If not you then who, the tax payers that didn’t break the law? It is bad enough that we are taxed to death, literally till we die. So why then should it be unconstitutional to make an offender pay for the cost of court? I personally think it is a waste of tax payer’s money to enable people who are, let’s say too busy so as not to offend anyone, to do for themselves. I get up and go to work every day and still find time to make an appointment to renew my license.
Oh, and when I had a run in with our legal system I marked it up as a life mistake, paid what I owed and moved on with my life. Yes we all make mistakes and for some those mistakes have consequences but it is no ones responsibility except the person making the mistakes to pay for them. I am all for helping people who need help but having a mobile license office is a waste of taxpayer’s money, especially when most of us have to make an appointment and wait our turn at the tag office. It is no wonder we live in a world where there are so many people with an entitlement mentality.
I need a ride I would like to go but of course I have no way or license so if anyone is going I would do gas money but I’m live down Williams ditch rd. Let me know or I will keep checking on here thanks
Thanks for bringing this up to Century.
I tried to renew online but said I had to show up because the last renewal was not in person.
Then I should be good to go for the next nine years.
I wish they would do this on Pace Parkway off Muscogee rd. in Cantonment!
“Wow” What traffic fine is $25,000? Is Kevin talking about fines? Or is he talking about lawyers fees and/or unpaid Child Support? How come tens of thousands of us make it through life without $15,000 “fines”. Do the crime, do the time and pay the fine. Your own fault.
@Adam Also… wow, judgmental much? It is hard for some people financially once they get tangled up with the court system. And the bad part is, it sometimes seems it’s all about the money to them… how much can they squeeze out of an individual because of a mess-up.
But I totally understand… like Kevin said, you get in trouble and get sentenced to some time and probation. The judge also slaps you with a $25,000 fine. Now when you get out, the state is going to want to charge you for all kinds of little things that have to do with your probation, plus you have to make payments on the fine. Add that to the fact that now you are a felon, and no matter how repentant and rehabilitated you are, it will be difficult to find a good paying job… Often the person has to get a vehicle and get someplace to live, so there’s more expense. So it’s no wonder that it drags out for a few years. In the meantime, some get stressed and discouraged and go back to whatever it was that got them in trouble.
So no… I wouldn’t just automatically discount any idea that would help these people get back on their feet and back to being productive members of society.
There are a lot of people driving with suspended licenses in Florida because they have so many laws that say they can take your license for failing to pay some fine or fee, or if your let your insurance lapse on a car, even if you aren’t driving it. Florida is one of the worst states for all that… however, I believe a federal court recently said that a lot of those tactics of suspending licenses because of unpaid fees are illegal and unconstitutional and struck them down in another state… I think Tennessee… so I’m sure that these other states (like ours) will soon have to follow to change their laws…
Kevin Enfinger, The people that wind up in court and are guilty of the charges, should be the ones paying. Instead of wanting community service, get a part time real job and pay the court cost you incurred. That was 12 years ago, and you still haven’t settled your debt? You are correct that it is ridiculous, but, the ridiculous part is that you have not got this behind you. Unbelievable!
@ kevin
good you did the right thing. But driving is a privilage not a right. I hate to say thing but god made feet first, then bicycles.
Im gonna chime in on this because I was in this situation. People make mistakes and end up before a judge. But what florida does is throws a ton of fines anc cost on the person and then suspends their drivers license and they cant get to and from work let alone pay the fines. Florida needs to find some other way to collect court charges. Once someone has been sentenced and served time, all this does is prevent them from moving forward and becoming a productive citizen. Maybe let them work community service or something. But these courts arent willing to bugde. It costs me almost 15000 dollars to get my license. I got in trouble in 2007 this is 2019 and Im still paying the fines. Its ridiculous and unconstitutional to bind someone like that
Lisa Fuller – You nailed it. I’ve known several people that know their license was suspended for various things like child support etc. that drive anyway even when there was a person available or even in the car with a valid license. They either don’t care or they don’t have the money to fix they issue or both.
It’s nice that this mobile service will be available to people who have difficulty getting to Molino to renew their licenses. But to think that people who choose to drive with an expired or suspended license will use this service is naive at best. People who drive without a valid license do so because they don’t care, not because it’s too difficult to get a license. The idea that those same people can renew their license and check on outstanding fines or tickets while they’re at the courthouse is plain wishful thinking. Do you really think people who haven’t bothered to pay speeding fines or other court fees are going to do so now simply because they happen to be getting a driver license? Or maybe there’s a catch…you can’t get a license if you have outstanding court fines. I doubt that. But if it was the case, again, those people simply will continue to drive without a valid license.