Clerical error to blame for Michigan man caught on video driving with suspended licence
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A clerical error is to blame after a video went viral of a Michigan man caught driving during a virtual court appearance while his licence was suspended.
The video showed Corey Harris behind the wheel as he told the judge he was pulling up to a doctor’s office as his wife’s health had worsened.
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Clerical error to blame for Michigan man caught on video driving with suspended licence Back to video
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In fact, the driving ban was rescinded by a judge in January 2022 after Harris made payments in a child support case in Saginaw County, according to ABC affiliate WXYZ in Detroit.
However, because the Michigan Secretary of State’s office didn’t receive the clearance order from the Saginaw County court, the driving suspension was never lifted.
Last week, Harris appeared via Zoom for a misdemeanour case following a traffic stop in Pittsfield Township in October 2023.
Judge Cedric Simpson asked Harris if he was driving while making the virtual appearance to a courtroom in Ann Arbor.
“Actually, I’m pulling into my doctor’s office actually,” Harris replied. “Just give me one second. I’m parking right now.”
His defence lawyer confirmed to the judge that Harris was facing a driving on a suspended licence charge. Harris was ordered to turn himself in to the Washtenaw County Jail by 6 p.m. that day.
“Oh my God,” the shocked Harris can be heard whispering in disbelief.
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It is unknown why the driving suspension was not lifted more than two years ago.
“Sometimes it is simple as we at the Secretary of State’s office did not get a clearance from the court that everything was done, but something happened in the wires, and we needed to talk to the court to get the clearance and clean it up for the resident,” Khyla Craine, Deputy Legal Director for the Michigan Secretary of State, said.
Craine added that people may not understand the complicated legal process to get their licence reinstated.
“That’s why we provide that one one-on-one consultation with the resident to help them understand what they need to do,” she said.
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