THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, June 17, 1996 TAG: 9606140024
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 42 lines
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles is overstepping its bounds by the erroneous assumption that noncompliance with child-support payments is a subversive attack from the noncustodial parent. The catch-22 it is creating degrades the financial and emotional abilities of the noncustodial parent to support his offspring.
Twice during the five years I have been making support payments I was unemployed. The first employer lost its services contract to another company, and the second downsized as a result of a hostile takeover. Unemployment insurance and meager savings helped me survive and kept me solvent. Each time I regained employment, my financial support would continue with an added augmentation for any arrearage accumulated while unemployed.
During the second unemployment period, I was hauled into court for contempt of court as a ``deadbeat dad.'' It neither mattered that I was unemployed due to causes beyond my control nor that I was actively seeking suitable employment. The judge suggested that I take any position to remain responsible to my obligations. It did not occur to the court that working at minimum wage would not cover the support payments. Adding insult to injury, my license was suspended until I paid the court costs with what limited income was available to me, and legal fees were added to my arrearage.
Have we, as a society, lost contact with our common sense? When the courts claim that ``food is being denied from the mouths of children,'' as I was admonished, the side of the coin that accurately presents the custodial parent's financial status should have been considered. In this case, the custodial parent receives support for another child from another dad, nontaxable income from the U.S. military, and is a well-paid naval officer of over 24 years. Food has never been an issue. In this case, the money and control exhibited by the disgruntled custodial parent is the real issue.
This information, I am certain, is not available to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. I have not heard its charter contains judiciary acumen. Therefore, what right does the department have to invoke justice when our judicial system is having enough challenges getting things right?
DON POOLE
Virginia Beach, June 7, 1996 by CNB