The Judge's Response

Here is the text of the letter I have received from the Administrative Law Judge.

                               STATE OF ALABAMA
                            DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
                         ADMINISTRATIVE LAW DIVISION
                             Montgomery, AL 36132

April 27, 1999

RE: Ernest MacDougal Campbell, III v. State of Alabama
    Docket No. MV. 99-243
    
Dear Mr. Campbell:

     The Administrative Law Division has received and docketed your notice
of appeal concerning the Department's denial of a custom car tag requested
by Ernest MacDougal Campbell, III.

     The Legal Division of the Department has been notified of the appeal
and is required to file a written answer with the Administrative Law
Division. As soon as the Department's answer is filed, a formal Notice of
Hearing will be issued setting a hearing date. The Notice of Hearing will be
served on you by certified mail. A copy of the Department's answer will be
attached to the Notice of Hearing.

     You do not need to take any further action at this time. You should
receive the Notice of Hearing within 30 to 60 days. Please call if you have
any questions.

                          Respectfully,
                          
                          
                          BILL THOMPSON
                          Chief Administrative Law Judge

At first I thought that "Notice of Hearing" meant something like "go to court". But I called Judge Thompson, and he explained that I don't have to show up for this hearing, and there are no court fees involved. Basically, they'll have to explain to the judge why they denied my tag request, and a decision will be made. If they still don't want to give me the tag I want, I can appeal (not bloody likely. I'll just take a normal tag and give my $50 back, please).

Jeez. All I really expected was to hear something back like "Dear Mr. Campbell, boy is our face red. Sure, you can have DOUGAL as your car tag. Sorry you had to go to so much trouble." Is that so much to ask?

Back to Dougal'shomepage