Glitch causes DMV to wrongfully suspend licenses

ORLANDO, Fla. — Officials with the Department of Motor Vehicles said they have reinstated thousands of licenses that were wrongfully suspended due to a glitch.

The glitch sent letters to thousands of Florida drivers saying their licenses had been suspended because of a problem with their insurance.

Orlando driver Sandy Cleary said when she received one of the letters, it caused her to panic.

“I couldn’t believe it. As far as I knew I was legal. I had no reason to think my license would be suspended,” Cleary said.

The letter stated her license would be suspended because her insurance company denied her coverage when she registered her vehicle.

She said she was confused by the letter, because she knew she was insured.

DMV officials said 7,500 letters went out, some of them by accident.

They said several things caused the error, including miscommunication with insurance companies.

The DMV has reinstated all 7,500 licenses and officials said they will go back and determine who had coverage and who did not.

“It’s a little bit more calming to know I’m not alone, but still, to get something like that is stressful,” Cleary said.

DMV officials said there were some technical problems with transitioning to a new system involving the way they notify drivers who aren’t insured.

WFTV