Do all CHP officers have the same power ?

[uski]

Hi !

I am new to California and I am trying to sort the importation of my motorcycle (I moved with it from Canada), which has been a major pain so far.

One of the step is getting the bike inspected by the CHP (essentially looking at the labels on the frame, and checking a few boxes on a 1-page paper to confirm what the labels are saying, things like "does the label say the vehicle comply with CA emissions [y/n]").

Can any CHP officier do this ? Or does it need to be a specialized CHP officer with special "training" ?

The reason I am asking is because :
- The temporary permit I have been given by the DMV to ride my motorcycle expires before the end of the month of May
- The first dedicated appointment at the CHP to do this type of inspection is in mid-July
- This means I will not be able to drive between May and July. My bike is my primary mean of transportation and I'm desperate to find a solution

PS: To put things in perspective, it's like being given a 45+ days license suspension... except I did nothing wrong !

Of course the DMV had all the paperwork for ~6 weeks but only let me know about the CHP thing today. Seems like this rules are for commercial importation for resale, where administrative delays are no big deal, but here it's different, it is my primary vehicle...

If any CHP officier can do this, I will try to see if I can get one to help me (not sure how, that is another topic, let's proceed step by step).

Thanks

 

[motomania2007]

Make an appointment at the CHP office just north of 101 and 880 interchange.
They will do the VIN verification which is what you're looking at plus whatever other inspection that the DMV says has to be done.

 

[uski]

Yes, they are the one I called, and would have me not be able to drive for 45+ days due to the delays. I am trying to see if there is any alternative solution so that I can keep driving.

 

[bikeama]

This will not help with your delay in getting an appointment.

I have a friend who has a collection of motorcycles and several are from overseas. He always knows where the VIN and ENGINE numbers are before the CHP appointment. If the engine number is not easily visible That is you have to lay on the ground to see it. Bring a blanket, mirror, and light for the CHP to use. Your appointment will go a lot better than asking the CHP to lay on the ground to see a number.

 

[motomania2007]

Yes, they are the one I called, and would have me not be able to drive for 45+ days due to the delays. I am trying to see if there is any alternative solution so that I can keep driving.

CHP has a policy of not doing VIN verifications outside of the office appointment process so it is unlikely to get any alternative.

Last time I did the VIN verification there, I had the bike in the back of my truck facing the rear so the engine number was very easy to read.

 

[berth]

So I'm guessing doing wheelies on the interstate and getting pulled over isn't a good opportunity to ask for a quick inspection while they write out the citation?

 

[dravnx]

Ride conservatively, dress conservatively and do not bring attention to yourself. Keep your paperwork with you and if you do get pulled over, explain that you've been attempting to preform the registration process and show the LEO all your proper paperwork and annotated timelines.
Be reasonable, relaxed and respectful.

 

[TheRiddler]

There are specifically trained officers for this purpose. Kind of a big deal if a cop signs off as a VIN being verified when it's actually a stolen vehicle with a VIN swap.

 

[jao]

It might help to post which specific DMV form you need completed.

Have you tried going the route of using DMV licensed vehicle verifiers? A google search using bay area DMV licensed vehicle verifiers turned up several businesses.

 

[richbobby]

just fyi the chp is not doing the vin inspection right now for covid reasons. You can get on a waiting list - email chp-330vin@chp.ca.gov

The officer i emailed with also told me that reg. related offenses would not be penalized right now.

BTW I had the vin verification/emissions sticker check done when I brought my bike from MD by a DMV employee in the parking lot of the DMV.

 

[motomania2007]

DMV is still shut down for in person DMV services

 

[uski]

Hi !

Thanks for all your replies, I did not see them until now.

He always knows where the VIN and ENGINE numbers are before the CHP appointment. If the engine number is not easily visible That is you have to lay on the ground to see it. Bring a blanket, mirror, and light for the CHP to use. Your appointment will go a lot better than asking the CHP to lay on the ground to see a number.

Yes I know where it is, and thanks for the advice, I will do this...
I would have expected that if they make people wait weeks for an appointment, they would at least have the proper equipment :laughing

CHP has a policy of not doing VIN verifications outside of the office appointment process so it is unlikely to get any alternative.

Policies should work both ways, I wish they also had a policy to have appointments available within a reasonable amount of time. :rolleyes :laughing

Ride conservatively, dress conservatively and do not bring attention to yourself. Keep your paperwork with you and if you do get pulled over, explain that you've been attempting to preform the registration process and show the LEO all your proper paperwork and annotated timelines.
Be reasonable, relaxed and respectful.

I assume you are an officer ? Thank you very much. This looks like is the way to go here. :thumbup

What I experienced where I lived before was the other paradigm.
Here, people are expected to sometimes drive with expired paperwork, and to talk their way out of a ticket by explaining - maybe.
There, you can't talk yourself out, because the government always gives you the possibility to be up to date. If your paperwork is expired there, it's your fault.

It is kind of a big deal for me to know my paperwork is not up to date, so yes if I get pulled over I will be stressed out and not relaxed.

Reasonable and respectful, always, even with non LEO, even more with LEO :hail

So I'm guessing doing wheelies on the interstate and getting pulled over isn't a good opportunity to ask for a quick inspection while they write out the citation?

:laughing

To be honest, I'm learning the way law enforcement operates in the USA (see above). I worked very close to LEO, but in another country, and where I worked they would take a few officers off the speed guns until the appointments backlog was reasonable, because we expected government offices to give citizens a chance to respect the administrative delays. So that if something was not up to date, we know who's at fault.

I'm not complaining - but it's a cultural shock for me.

There are specifically trained officers for this purpose. Kind of a big deal if a cop signs off as a VIN being verified when it's actually a stolen vehicle with a VIN swap.

I'm really happy that the DMV and CHP takes vehicle theft seriously.
I really have no issue with the process, I just don't understand the delays for such a simple thing. As above - cultural shock, simply.

It might help to post which specific DMV form you need completed.

Have you tried going the route of using DMV licensed vehicle verifiers? A google search using bay area DMV licensed vehicle verifiers turned up several businesses.

Thank you for the suggestion !

However, the DMV said that all foreign motorcycles can only be verified by the CHP only. DMV form is REG 124, which I attached to this message.

just fyi the chp is not doing the vin inspection right now for covid reasons. You can get on a waiting list - email chp-330vin@chp.ca.gov

The officer i emailed with also told me that reg. related offenses would not be penalized right now.

I got an appointment booked with the CHP on mid-July (I called them), so hopefully it will be reopened by then. They gave me a date and a time.

Thanks for all your replies. It is a stressful situation with a lot of unknowns (it's fluid, every few weeks, the DMV discovers I need to do something new to get my bike registered). I'm looking forward to get out of this and finally ride with all the paperwork and peace of mind :ride

Thanks again ! :thumbup

 

[uski]

Forgot to attach the file, here is it (scan of DMV REG124 form provided by them and to be filled by the CHP)

Here are the instructions I got :

[Please return] the enclosed Application for Assigned Vehicle Identification Plate Number, (REG 124), completed by an officer of the California Highway Patrol who physically inspected the vehicle for the purpose of verification and/or vehicle identification number assignment.
Note: All foreign motorcycles must be inspected by the CHP.

The form really did not seem like it was a big deal.

Apparently they just want the VIN and compliance labels (FMVSS and EPA/CARB) to be looked at (DMV already did it), and the mileage written down.

As they didn't mention any special unit, I posted here to ask if any CHP officer could do it.

I didn't understand it warranted a 2 months delay, but I'm okay if it's how it works here and people are happy with this :flag

 

[Shiro]

There are independent DMV services and people. I was going to shoot you the contact of this DMV guy I was connected with but I don't know him personally so held off. You can find them though I bet if you google. They function the same as an AAA that can perform DMV services I believe.