Seigneur v. Motor Vehicle Division of the Department of Revenue

KELLY, Judge. Plaintiff, Lanny Reed Seigneur, appeals a judgment of the district court affirming the Department of Revenue’s extension of the suspension of his driver’s license for one year in addition to the original suspension period. We reverse. Plaintiff’s driver’s license was suspended for 12 months on May 16, 1979, for the accumulation of 12 points during a 12-month period, and he was issued a probationary license. Plaintiff was eligible for [968] reinstatement of his license on May 15, 1980, but did not apply. On September 22, 1980, plaintiff was issued a traffic citation and charged with driving under suspension. He applied for reinstatement of his license on October 10, 1980. Plaintiff was convicted of improper lane use, and the charge of driving under suspension was dismissed. On April 8, 1981, the Department of Revenue found that he had been driving under suspension and extended the suspension of his driver’s license until March 16, 1982, one year from the date of his conviction for improper lane use. At plaintiffs request, a hearing was held on April 19,1981. The hearing officer advised plaintiff, who appeared without counsel, that because he had not applied for reinstatement and had not paid the restoration fee prior to his being issued the citation, his license was suspended at that time. Plaintiff indicated that he was driving to work when cited. However, no sworn testimony was taken. The dispositive issue on this appeal is whether plaintiffs probationary license expired at the end of the 12-month period of suspension in May 1980, or, as he contends, was valid until he sought restoration of his license in October 1980. We conclude that the probationary license is valid until the licensee pays the restoration fee unless an expiration date is stated on the probationary license. In Colorado Department of Revenue v. Smith, 640 P.2d 1143 (Colo.1982) the Supreme Court held that a suspension of driving privileges does not expire automatically at the end of the period of ineligibility prescribed by the department, but continues until the required restoration fee is paid. Department of Revenue Regulation No. 2-123.11, 1 Code Colo.Reg. 204-8 (1977), provides that “the hearing officer may, upon request of the licensee, have the department issue a probationary license for the period of suspension.” (emphasis added) The department is authorized to issue probationary licenses only within the specific guidelines of Regulation 2-123.11. See Elizondo v. Motor Vehicle Division, 194 Colo. 113, 570 P.2d 518 (1977). Therefore, since under the regulation the department’s authority is limited to issuing probationary licenses for the period of suspension, and the period of suspension continues until the restoration fee is paid, irrespective of the date on which ineligibility expires, we hold that a probationary license is valid until the licensee pays the restoration fee. See People v. Lessar, 629 P.2d 577 (Colo.1981); see also § 42-2-123, C.R.S.1973 (1982 Cum.Supp.) (effective October 1, 1979). If the department intends that a probationary license expire on a date certain, a notation to that effect must be made on the probationary license. The department argues that this holding could allow a suspended driver who holds a probationary license to drive indefinitely without becoming reinstated. We disagree. A probationary license is not an unlimited license to drive. A hearing officer may grant a probationary license only for certain restricted health and welfare purposes, and the licensee’s driving privileges are limited to those purposes. Department of Revenue Regulation 2-123.11, 1 Code Colo.Reg. 204^8 (1977). Defendant’s argument that failure to serve summons upon the attorney general in the trial court requires dismissal of this appeal is not properly before us as it was not raised in defendant’s initial pleadings. C.R.C.P. 12(h); Board of County Commissioners v. District Court, 172 Colo. 311, 472 P.2d 128 (1970). The trial court’s judgment is reversed and the cause remanded to the Department of Revenue to take sworn testimony to determine whether plaintiff was within the restrictions of his probationary license when issued the traffic citation. If the evidence establishes that plaintiff was driving within the restrictions of his probationary license when cited, we direct the department to reissue his driver’s license. TURSI, J., concurs. BERMAN, J., dissents.