Sheriff’s office explains why woman with 39 citations for revoked license is still on roads

July 10, 2019 12:33 AM

Jamie Perez,

Posted: July 10, 2019 12:33 AM

Updated: August 31, 2021 12:23 PM

by Jamie Perez

Sheriff’s office explains why woman with 39 citations for revoked license is still on roads — SCSO

SAUK COUNTY, Wis. — The original article about 35-year-old Jeannie M. Lyons receiving her 39 citation for driving with a revoked license raised a lot of questions.

The most common question was: How is she still on the roads?

Sauk County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Jeff Spencer pulled Lyons over Friday after he says she was going more than 100 mph on Highway 12.

“She was very cooperative. She handed me her ID card and told me her driver’s license had been revoked, and she told me she had over $8,000 in fines that she couldn’t pay, but she had to continue to drive,” Spencer said.

Spencer said he issued Lyons citations for driving with a revoked license, reckless driving and speeding.

According to the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access page, Lyons has a long history of violating traffic laws.

Spencer said Lyons’ license was “originally revoked for operating while intoxicated going back 12 years.”

Since then, Lyons has racked up a lot of fines for violating other traffic laws such as failing to yield, failure to wear a seat belt and speeding, among others.

In the state of Wisconsin, operating with a revoked license is not a criminal offense and only results in a money penalty.

According to Lyons’ history, she’s paid off a lot of her fines, but still has a long way to go.

Many of the other charges listed on her record were dismissed. Spencer says as long as she doesn’t commit a greater offense and continues to pay her fines, even if it’s slowly, there’s nothing the sheriff’s office can do.

“If it stays on the civil side, and they don’t pay their fines, all they do is suspend their driver’s license even longer, and they continue to drive and there’s no incentive for them to get their driver’s license back. There’s nothing holding them accountable to not drive.”

Many people have asked where Lyons is getting access to a car. Spencer said when he pulled Lyons over, she was in her mother’s car.

“The vehicle belonged to her mother, so her mother gives her access to the vehicle to drive. Her mother could be cited for knowingly allowing an unlicensed person to drive,” Spencer said.

Spencer said he has handed Lyons’ case over to the Sauk County District Attorney’s office to determine if criminal charges will be filed, considering the magnitude of traffic violations Lyons has on record.

In the meantime, Lyons could still be driving on the road.

This Baraboo woman was issued her 39th citation for driving with a suspended license. Many are asking, “How is she still on the roads?”
Sauk. Co. Sheriff’s office says her citations are misdemeanors and if she keeps paying her fines, there’s not much else they can do. #News3Now pic.twitter.com/ZsPihgLGRm

— Jamie Perez (@JamiePerezTV) July 9, 2019

“I wish I had the answer of knowing what to do but it’s difficult,” Spencer said.

The district attorney’s office said Lyons has been referred before. The last time she was referred was in 2017 for failure to appear in jail. The office would not comment on why Lyons has not yet faced criminal charges.

Get your weather forecast from people who actually live in your community. We update with short, easy-to-use video forecasts you can watch on your phone every day. Download the iOS or Android app here.