Slightly peeved about my driver's license

Quote: Originally Posted by PuRFuS

Hey all, my first post! i like this place.

I felt I would bring up an issue that has really been preventing my life from taking off in the hopes that SOMEONE can give me some help!

To begin with, a little bit of back story. I was a young lad of sixteen. I got my license in my small northern alberta town. In said town I got some legit tickets (and some that I don't consider to be legit at all). Whatever, people get tickets.

However, being young, I stupidly thought I was invincible, that if I didn't pay these tickets nothing would happen.

Big mistake.

Several years later, my wallet was stolen. Oh well I thought. I don't go to the bar, who cares. I don't need an identification. Eventually, realizing the error of my ways, I went to get my license replaced. Turns out that to do so I had to pay my outstanding fines first. (A few hundred dollars). This sucked, I was going to college (for a useless program I couldn't afford to complete), and literally had NO money for several years that I could afford to spend on anything other than my rent bills and groceries. So it stayed on the backburner.

I eventually was in a position to pay off my tickets, which I went to do with pride.

Here's where the cruddy part kicks in.

Turns out that my license had been expired for so long I got busted back to pedestrian. I had to take my learner's examination again, which I did. And then I had to take my driver's test again. Well, low and behold, I now have NO ACCESS TO A TESTING VEHICLE! I don't have family, I don't have friends. None that are willing to lend my their precious cars anyhow. And, I find out, that I can't use testing agencies vehicles anymore now that it is privatized.

My question, how the heck do I go about getting a license? I am married now, thirty years old, and I am stuck working crap retail jobs because I don't have a license. Good paying jobs in construction all require I have a driver's license! But, I cannot get one.

What the heck do I do? I am sick of suffering such a heavy punishment for such an inconsequential indiscretion in my youth. I paid my dues (albeit a little late), and now more than ever wish to contribute to society and start a family. This is the only obstacle stopping me. I mean, come on. I know people who are still allowed to drive despite multiple DUI convictions! WTF?!??!?!

Suggestions?

Thanks everyone! looking forward to more time in the forums!

Quote: Originally Posted by Spade

In Alberta, to drive, you need an Operator's Licence.

I don't have family, I don't have friends. None that are willing to lend my their precious cars anyhow.

Quote: Originally Posted by PuRFuS

Hey all. Thanks for the slightly condescending remarks about me not having friends, and thanks for rubbing it in! Here I was looking for some helpful information, not people being jerks. If that is the kind of forum this is then I will gladly move along.
Here's what I said.
It's not that I'm a BAD driver, it's that I am a bad socializer. No. I don't have any friends. Hope that makes you happy.
Does anybody have any useful advice? Sorry I am not like the rest of you. My friends still live in the home town I moved away from. A long long way from here. And yes, I have asked the several I know with a vehicle. All have said no. Why? I don't know. Why would you say no? They probably said it for the same reason. Guess I don't have very good friends. I have a wife, but you see, she doesn't have a vehicle either. If she does she's living some kind of strange double life. And, she's asked several of the people she works with, all of who said no as well. Alberta advantage = license to douchebaggery I guess. So much for helping out a fellow human being.
Hence why I posted here with this somewhat humiliating request for information. (Truthfully, you are both sort of acting like the self-entitled rude people at my licensing bureau who told me to rent a car and then laughed me out of their business.)

Quote has been trimmed, See full post:

Quote: Originally Posted by PuRFuS

Hey all, my first post! i like this place.

I felt I would bring up an issue that has really been preventing my life from taking off in the hopes that SOMEONE can give me some help!

To begin with, a little bit of back story. I was a young lad of sixteen. I got my license in my small northern alberta town. In said town I got some legit tickets (and some that I don't consider to be legit at all). Whatever, people get tickets.

However, being young, I stupidly thought I was invincible, that if I didn't pay these tickets nothing would happen.

Big mistake.

Several years later, my wallet was stolen. Oh well I thought. I don't go to the bar, who cares. I don't need an identification. Eventually, realizing the error of my ways, I went to get my license replaced. Turns out that to do so I had to pay my outstanding fines first. (A few hundred dollars). This sucked, I was going to college (for a useless program I couldn't afford to complete), and literally had NO money for several years that I could afford to spend on anything other than my rent bills and groceries. So it stayed on the backburner.

I eventually was in a position to pay off my tickets, which I went to do with pride.

Here's where the cruddy part kicks in.

Turns out that my license had been expired for so long I got busted back to pedestrian. I had to take my learner's examination again, which I did. And then I had to take my driver's test again. Well, low and behold, I now have NO ACCESS TO A TESTING VEHICLE! I don't have family, I don't have friends. None that are willing to lend my their precious cars anyhow. And, I find out, that I can't use testing agencies vehicles anymore now that it is privatized.

My question, how the heck do I go about getting a license? I am married now, thirty years old, and I am stuck working crap retail jobs because I don't have a license. Good paying jobs in construction all require I have a driver's license! But, I cannot get one.

What the heck do I do? I am sick of suffering such a heavy punishment for such an inconsequential indiscretion in my youth. I paid my dues (albeit a little late), and now more than ever wish to contribute to society and start a family. This is the only obstacle stopping me. I mean, come on. I know people who are still allowed to drive despite multiple DUI convictions! WTF?!??!?!

Suggestions?

Thanks everyone! looking forward to more time in the forums!

Quote: Originally Posted by Spade

In Alberta, to drive, you need an Operator's Licence.

Quote: Originally Posted by VanIsle

Sorry - no advice but like Goober, I have to wonder how long you have lived in AB or at least in the same town that you don't have anyone willing to loan you a vehicle for long enough to take your driver's test? Are you just a really bad driver? You must know someone with an older vehicle that isn't afraid to let you drive it for your exam.


Silly! He wants to drive a car. He doesn't want to operate a telephone. You don't need a licence for that.

Quote: Originally Posted by Liberalman

I lived in Alberta for years and most of the people will give the shirt off their backs to you if you needed it at the same time they would not have any hesitation to stab you in the back because they won't put up with any belly aching.

Alberta is cowboy country which means whatever it takes to get the job done.

I am truly sorry to say this but you would not last on a construction job not in Alberta.

Years ago you made a choice now you got to live with it and do what ever it takes to get your drivers license back.

Quote: Originally Posted by bill barilko

Take a driving course like Young Drivers of Canada-I know 4 adults who've done just that to obtain their licence.Not cheap but does qualify you for a discount on your insurance-in some places anyway.

There are almost certainly other cheaper options-you have Google don't you?

--

Quote: Originally Posted by JLM

Wasn't this problem resolved last May?