Erik N

This is related to my "who got a ticket" thread.

A Jefferson Co. Texas sheriff cited me for "expired registration". I have 30 days to show proof of current tags to avoid paying the $155 fee.

As some of you saw, I am running Calififornia plates on my car, because my wife is active military here in TX but our cars are all (legally) registered in CA.

The expiration citation was a result of the lag time in the CA DMV system. I mailed all the documentation and fees to CA before the tags expired, but CA is so behind in processing (they are processing mail from August now, in November) that their system showed my car as unregistered (but insured)when the sheriff contacted them about my status.

In CA it is LEGAL to operate your vehicle while the DMV processes your mailed in paperwork and fees. I showed the sheriff copies of all my paperwork, showing a valid paper trail. He cited me anyway, and I didn't argue it.

I know that CA won't process my tags before the 30 days are up, so what is my recourse, if any?

PS. I will NOT be arguing the speeding part of my citation...

Leon Speed

Can't help but suggest also posting this to OT. Those guys can help no matter what the issue. House? Wife? Ticket? Job? Snow plower? Stolen iphone? OT can help. Good luck,

Herman K

Go to www.tixnix.com I have used them twice with success.

Good luck

928mac

hmmm I have probably received more tickets then most people have taken vacations.
then again I have been married more times then I have taken vacations.
Hmmm loosing my license more times then I've been married.

Now I am screwed

James Bailey

Has California cashed your check ? if so perhaps a copy of that showing that you did your part would be enough to convince the "judge" to dismiss.

cali4sun

Did I miss something you were not in California, and Cal DMV had not received your payment, so technical your registration was expired. I've never waited as long as you mention to receive updated tags? It's usually 2-3 weeks to recieve new tags after payment is sent (now if you have mail forwarding I can understand the delay) Good luck on that one...

'89 S4 GP White/Black
'76 912E Silver/Black

ALKada

You would be suprised at how much a judge will dismiss a ticket if you show intent on having done your duty to register the car (paper trail has to be presented to the judge). I had a ticket dismissed in Arlington just for that reason. But maybe she was having a good day when I walked into her courtroom and proceeded to kiss her a$$.

Manfred

I agree; just keep the court date, show your paper trail and don't contest the speeding ticket--most judges would probably give you the benefit of the doubt on that one.

soontobered84

Erik,
I got a ticket in Plainview, Tx which is way the heck far away from my home. I knew I wasn't going to go to court way up there so I called the Justice of the Peace in whose court it would have been. I explained the situation and asked about any recourse. Mine was a speeding ticket and well over the posted allowable limits for deferred adjudication. The longer we spoke, the nicer she got, and she let me plead nolo contendre and set me up for defer/adjud. Just saying that maybe you shouldn't wait for the last minute to find out your options. Good Luck.

Erik N

Thanks for the replies.

The fees were paid by USPS money order, purchased before they were due. So the CA DMV has not "cashed the check" yet...

Jefferson Co. is 500 miles from where I live, so showing up for my date is out.

I will contact the Justice of the Peace there.

danglerb

I pay online with a credit card at http://www.dmv.ca.gov/online/vrir/vr_top2.htm and get my stuff within a week, if time is short I can go to AAA and get them on the spot.

AAA will also show up in court for you if its not local.

Erik N

I had to submit a statement of facts along with my $$, can't do that online in CA

Imo000

Yes, but do you have proof they actually received it before the due date or if they even received it at all?

jpitman2

Jees guys, move along. Here in Oz (vic) we get a renewal notice from 'dmv' at least 6 weeks prior to expiry (which incorporates a windsreen sticker, colour coded for year), and there are two ways of paying on the web - direct to dmv on a credit card, or via a bank transfer. I schedule a transfer with my bank for a day or two before expiry, and apply the sticker close to the expiry date.
Technically you could NOT pay and apply the sticker, and get away with it for a pretty long time, but eventually dmv would effectively de-list the car in 60-90 days, and then to get it back legal is a major hassle, you would be uninsured to drive it, and open to lots of trouble.
jp 83 Euro S AT 52k

dr bob

Erik--
How much was the reg cost vs the ticket costs? A Cali res can walk your paperwork through AAA here for you and mail you your paperwork if the reg is a lot less. It would take you a year to get the credit towards next year's costs. No chance of getting the money refunded. AAA does not take CC for DMV, although DMV does.