Notorious Nevberger Ends Run From The Law

Yes, you read that right... NEVBERGER (not Neuberger).  I suppose you didn't know that my husband was a hardened criminal, did you?  Do you recall in a previous post this month about getting our license plates where I had said to wish Tom good luck with getting his license that day?  I really didn't think he was going to need it, but it turns out he really did need some luck and he didn't have it that day. 

So here is the story... as best I can relay it.  Tom is really the one who tells this story best, but I will try since I doubt he will find the time to write about it and I just need to document this. 

I believe it was in the summer of 2002 (not positive, but it was before I ever knew him), Tom was traveling through part of his sales territory in Montana.  He was leaving Kalispell and was pulled over by one of the city police there.  The officer told him he was speeding - doing 35 in a 25.  Tom said he hadn't seen a speed limit sign and the officer even agreed with him that it wasn't posted, but that all the city streets were 25 MPH.  Tom said okay, the officer went back to his car after getting his license and registration, and then came back with a slip of paper.  It was a ticket, but no where on the paper was their a fine listed - it actually said $0.  The officer let him go and Tom figured that he was just given a warning since nothing was written or stated as a fine.  Tom crumpled up the paper and threw it away.  That was that... so he thought. 

About a month later, his mom forwarded him a letter from the state of Montana. (It was sent to Pittsburgh because at this time, Tom still had his Pennsylvania license and hadn't gotten a Washington one yet.)  The letter stated that his $25 ticket was now a $40 ticket because he hadn't paid it yet.  Tom, being the guy that he is, laughed it off, said screw it, and threw that letter away too.  Go figure!  Love how he takes this stuff so serious. 

Then about six months later, his mom and dad called him asking if there was something he needed to tell them.  They had received another letter from the state of Montana with a warrant for his arrest.  It said pay the ticket ($40) plus $100 to have his license reinstated (they had suspended it).  Once again, he laughed it off.  Really he was in disbelief that this had happened.  He swore that the ticket he received had no fee listed, but since he had thrown it away, he couldn't prove it. 

Are you wondering where the Nevberger comes into play?  One of the reasons Tom thought it was funny was they had mis-written his name on the ticket and the correspondences... all were addressed to Thomas Nevberger.  He said, "That's not me."

This story came to be a bit infamous in our Seattle sales office since this happened to him while working and in a work vehicle.  Everyone in the office ate it up - they loved the stories Tom always seemed to get himself into!  Tom even hung the warrant for his arrest letter at his desk.  He was proud of it. Can you believe it?!

So years went by.  He got a Washington license. We got our marriage license.  We applied and were granted a home mortgage.  He renewed his license in Washington.  He even got his Passport.  This warrant had never come up or been an issue.  It was always just this funny story he would tell about running from the law. 

Then came the time for us to apply for our second mortgage for our new home here in Wisconsin.  They had done a background check and there was a list of "other names" or aliases that we had to explain - like my maiden name, Tom vs. Thomas, and then there was Nevberger!  I thought, "Oh no!  This is no good!"  But we said it must have been a mis-spelling and it all went through.  Nothing else was asked.  Crazy, huh?!

Then as we made our journey across the country with our move, Tom was pulled over in Montana again for speeding!  I thought again that this was going to be the end... my husband will be hauled off to jail in the middle of our move.  But the state patrol officer let him go and this time without a ticket... the paper said "Warning" on it.  Phew!  He made it by again.  Can you believe this story yet?

So now eight months after our move to Wisconsin, Tom finally got around to going for his new license.  It was the end of the day and the licensing department was closing soon.  Tom said it was taking them a long time to put in his information and the guy seemed to be having issues of some sort.  He tells Tom that he has to go to the back to get some help with the issue.  The licensing worker comes back about 10 minutes later and then starts to explain the issues to him...

Tom wouldn't be issued a Wisconsin license since there is a warrant for his arrest.  He had to call the Oconomowoc police... they were going to come, but then they looked into it closer and since it is over a speeding ticket, Tom wasn't a real threat, but that they still can't issue a license to him until he resolves his issues with Montana.  Really - the Oconomowoc police were coming to arrest him until they looked closer!

Tom talked to the Kalispell, Montana police station that day... he paid the $40 fine over the phone by credit card, but he has to send a check for the other $100 to have his license reinstated.  They sent us a copy of the original ticket last week.... GUESS WHAT?  No where does it give a fine amount!  I can actually believe him now!!  He is going to call them and contest it.  Hopefully we aren't paying any more to the state of Montana.  But even if we do, they had told Tom that once that fine is paid, there will be no record of his warrant for arrest.  His record will be clean... no points taken from his license or anything.  So that is a relief! 

It is still so hard for me to believe... nine years after this happened and all the things he's applied for during the time (licenses, mortgages, etc), and it took the state of Wisconsin licensing department to put an end to Nevberger's run from the law.  

To everyone in the Seattle Sales Office reading this... I hope you have enjoyed!  The Nevberger story has come to a close.  To my family... please don't worry, Tom is the great guy you have always known.  :)  And to everyone else... let this be a reminder to not speed and to pay your tickets right away if you do!