UNSOLICITED LETTER OF SUPPORT -----Original Message----From (Name witheld by request) Sent: Friday, 4 April 2003 08:29 To: 'ag@viranda.co.nz' Subject: Thanks to NetLaw. Dear Netlaw, (John Smith) here, we spoke in January when I accidentally registered 13 times for NetLaw. I wanted to say THANK YOU for the Limited Licence information on your site! I didn't use a lawyer for my application so saved up to $1,000. I have been granted a limited licence to drive to Work, Church and Bible studies (a minor miracle - but I know someone in the miracle department). I thought I would tell you a few things about my case that were surprises and if you think they are relevant you may wish to post them on your site. (Mind you I haven't seen your site since 22 Jan so it will have changed already). 1) Both Auckland City and Waitakere District Courts insisted that I have the suspension papers before I could put in my application. They also said they wanted my application at least 3 days before the Court date so they had time to read it. Of course, as you say the Court date could be up to 3 weeks away. This means that I couldn't arrange to be served at the Court on the day I was being seen by the Judge. Transport registry tells me that if you have a lawyer then they can normally arrange for you to be served on the day. I didn't know that trick so waited until I got served to apply. (Maybe if you find out what the trick is you can put that on your site). Incidentally I applied in Waitakere District Court on a Wednesday and got a Court date for the next day, Thursday. 2) The Police didn't sign my application as I expected, but assured me (after a few alterations to my original) that they had no objections. Their word was good enough for me.
3) At the Court I wasn't informed that for Limited Licence cases you need to advise the Registrar that you are present or they will not call your case. Normally the duty solicitor would do this for you but I had not contacted them. In my case, when I was called (2nd case after notifying the Registrar), it happened that I didn't have to say my well practiced line of "No sir, but I understand the police do not object to my application." Because on my approach to the front of the Court the Police recognised me and said something to the effect of "no objections." 4) I was granted my licence 2 days after being suspended. When I got the LTSA agent with my Court order they found that in the Transport Registry system I had not yet been suspended and so they couldn't grant my limited licence. (Grrr..)
Transport Registry could not suspend me without seeing a copy of the suspension order (which had not arrived from Baycorp within the two days). They wanted me to fax through my copy which unfortunately, I had put in my application to the Court. I sorted
this the next day by tracking down a copy but my point is : Keep a copy in case you need to send it through to the Transport Registry. 5) I'm not sure yet what I do to get my licence back at the end of 3 months but I will work this out. Well, all the best, hope this feedback was helpful. Regards, (John Smith) Real name withheld by request