Whenever I receive a letter that begins with, “You qualify for,” it usually is some sort of scam. To my surprise, a few days ago I received a letter from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles stating that I qualified for a Driver Record Assessment and the statement enclosed required a sum of $300 to be paid to the New York DMV.

Let me back up a moment, in November 2025, I was driving across the Crown Point Bridge heading west. As I neared the end of the 30 MPH zone, I began to accelerate toward the 55 MPH zone, roughly 100 feet from the end of the bridge. I was pulled over and given a ticket for travelling 51 MPH in a 30 MPH zone. Okay, my mistake. I paid the ticket and thought nothing more about it until I received the Driving Record Assessment Statement, previously discussed.

Let me tell you, this letter emerged from its envelope like an ICE agent on border control, no explanation, just belligerent threats that if the sum was not paid by a certain date, my New York State driver’s license would be suspended.

I was initially shocked by the “violence” and then really pissed off. I immediately replied that I refused to pay the sum requested, that the license number listed was not my license number and that I didn’t have a New York State driver’s license for them to suspend.

What has happened to us? How did our interactions with each other and institutions go from a friendly Andy Griffith approach to a heavy-handed Rambo stance?

I miss Andy Griffith and I know you do too.

Randall Ross
New Haven