As someone who has been through this many, many times, I will answer any questions that you have to the best of my ability. There are very few resources to research how this works. I have learned through experience.
I am in Minnesota and our computer system doesn’t function well with respect to medical privileges. CA has had problems of its own. If CA is like MN, the department of public safety rules this process. DMV is an organization within that. The cops, legally, have to send mail to your residential address, whereas DMV can send mail to a secure PO box. This may have contributed to you not being notified. Now, at the same time, they ARE legally required to notify you in writing. So, I don’t let them off the hook just because they say they can’t send me mail because that seems pretty unamerican. Written explanation seems reasonable in the case where someone might loose a job and be put at risk.
It is illegal not to check the box, but it can save you a lot of hassle to not check that box. So, that’s up to your judgement. Sometimes, the Docs office will report, to the state, newly diagnosed diabetics, so exercise caution. Your license can potentially be suspended at any time for NOT checking the box, but it depends on how the state system works. There are no take backs now that you have checked it. I assume you are an insulin dependent. Otherwise, this whole thing doesn’t make ANY sense.
If I were your diabetic advocate, I would ask you for several things to make sure you are reinstated in 3 months:
1.) Consider seeing a different Doc. I have actually never, personally, known of a diabetic who had the MD revoke it, especially with no episodes of loss of consciousness behind the wheel. This sounds really strange.
2.) Keep meticulous written records of your BG over the next three months. I want it in an Excel spreadsheet or somewhere where you wont loose it and its easy to read. I want a good a1c (but, ‘good’ is open to interpretation). You may need to make your case in front of a medical board at Dept of Public Safety and these records are your entire case.
3.) Now that your license has been revoked, police will be curious and want to stop you more, so be prepared for that when you are reinstated.
4.) Know that there is a lot more paperwork that will be required of you in order to keep a license, now. You need to think VERY carefully about if driving for a living is the best career. This may be a high risk occupation if the state can yank your license at any moment and send you into bankruptcy. Consider living on a good bus line.
5.) It is the summer months, now, so make sure your BG’s are as stable as possible, and that you have snacks, because it will be risky for you if you need to start biking. Traffic is dangerous. There will be no one to help you if you have an episode all alone somewhere rural. Consider buying a waterproof box for diabetes supplies. Exercise will disrupt your typical blood sugars and make them more erratic.
6.) Go to the building that houses the state Dept of public safety/DMV and find out EXACTLY why they can’t send you mail. If they refuse to answer or cant say, then go to another office. But, the main location for the state of CA will know. This will be difficult since you don’t drive, but you often need to show up in person to get answers. Keep records of what they say in your BG record on the computer. This portion can be a real nightmare. Be prepared for that.
7.) Now that the state has declared you “Too handicapped” to drive, there may be some mobility resources available to you in the meantime. For instance, disability or (we have something called) metro mobility, which gives the elderly and disabled rides.
8.) Be aware that CA, like MN, has DMV computer system melt downs. Its on the list of states that have a super bad system. I’d say its the second worst in the nation, second only to MN. If this becomes a big problem, you might consider moving. I cant recommend MN or IL.
