Expired Tags vs Note on DMV Envelope

WoodsChick

WoodsChick

I Don't Do GPS
I insured my Husky in early March, then went to AAA to take it off non-op status and get new tags. They agreed to take my $142 (for a 13-year-old SM610 :rolleyes) but said I'd have to pay again when the reg became due in May. I decided to wait til the reg notice came in the mail. By that time, of course, SIP was in force and AAA and DMV were both closed. I tried to do it online but no go. Saw that DMV reopened in my neighborhood recently but they wouldn't let me in the building, told me they were only servicing people who had prior appointments that couldn't be honored during the time they were closed, and no new appointments could be made. I decided to admit defeat and mail in my registration. As I put my documents in the envelope I noticed for the first time this note at the bottom of the envelope...

"Once renewal fees have been deposited in the mail, California law allows you to operate your vehicle while DMV processes your renewal."

Is this actually true in a real world sense? Could/would you guys give me a ticket for riding with expired registration if I had copies of my documents and proof of insurance? Does the word "renewal" not apply to a vehicle that has been on non-op? I don't see how I could prove that I actually mailed it off anyway, even though I did. I have a feeling that this is not going to be processed by DMV in a very timely fashion and I'd really like to ride the bike over the coming 4-day weekend, but I don't want any issues.

Any guidance/enlightenment/advice greatly appreciated. Thank you!
 
WoodsChick

WoodsChick

I Don't Do GPS
matty

matty

Well-known member
I asked this a few years ago and the LEO's the chimed then, said it was at the discretion of the officer, I believe. Then again, I don't recall mine saying it was valid as of the post date, that might be new.

And for what it's worth, I just dropped some paper work at the DMV last week, just handed it to the dude outside and they were super quick to send it back to me to tell me that I had done it wrong:laughing, but the point is they must have started processing it that day.
 
WoodsChick

WoodsChick

I Don't Do GPS
matty said:
I asked this a few years ago and the LEO's the chimed then, said it was at the discretion of the officer, I believe. Then again, I don't recall mine saying it was valid as of the post date, that might be new.

And for what it's worth, I just dropped some paper work at the DMV last week, just handed it to the dude outside and they were super quick to send it back to me to tell me that I had done it wrong:laughing, but the point is they must have started processing it that day.
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Well, that’s encouraging. Thanks! Maybe I won’t have to wait forever :laughing

An odd thing...I register 3 regular vehicles and I’m embarrassed to say how many motorcycles per year, and I don’t ever remember seeing that sentence on the envelope. Is that a new thing?
 
bojangle

bojangle

FN # 40
Staff member
WoodsChick said:
I insured my Husky in early March, then went to AAA to take it off non-op status and get new tags. They agreed to take my $142 (for a 13-year-old SM610 :rolleyes) but said I'd have to pay again when the reg became due in May. I decided to wait til the reg notice came in the mail. By that time, of course, SIP was in force and AAA and DMV were both closed. I tried to do it online but no go. Saw that DMV reopened in my neighborhood recently but they wouldn't let me in the building, told me they were only servicing people who had prior appointments that couldn't be honored during the time they were closed, and no new appointments could be made. I decided to admit defeat and mail in my registration. As I put my documents in the envelope I noticed for the first time this note at the bottom of the envelope...

"Once renewal fees have been deposited in the mail, California law allows you to operate your vehicle while DMV processes your renewal."

Is this actually true in a real world sense? Could/would you guys give me a ticket for riding with expired registration if I had copies of my documents and proof of insurance? Does the word "renewal" not apply to a vehicle that has been on non-op? I don't see how I could prove that I actually mailed it off anyway, even though I did. I have a feeling that this is not going to be processed by DMV in a very timely fashion and I'd really like to ride the bike over the coming 4-day weekend, but I don't want any issues.

Any guidance/enlightenment/advice greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Click to expand...

Why couldn't you register it on line?

The DMV has suspended enforcement of registration violations for registrations that came due during SIP. They are not enforceable until June. I'm trying to find the exact dates, but I haven't found them yet.
 
WoodsChick

WoodsChick

I Don't Do GPS
bojangle said:
Why couldn't you register it on line?

The DMV has suspended enforcement of registration violations for registrations that came due during SIP. They are not enforceable until June. I'm trying to find the exact dates, but I haven't found them yet.
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Thank you! I first tried to register it online in March and it said something about it not being a valid transaction. I just assumed it was too early. Then I tried it in May after I got the renewal notice but again it wouldn’t work. I’m assuming it’s because I needed to show proof of insurance? It had been insured for 2 months by that time. It’s odd that DMV knows when you drop your insurance, but they weren’t aware that this bike was insured. Anyway, that is why I ultimately mailed it in with verification of insurance.

Thanks again, bojangle. I appreciate the input. I’ve really been enjoying your participation in the COVID forum, too.
 
bojangle

bojangle

FN # 40
Staff member
WoodsChick said:
Thank you! I first tried to register it online in March and it said something about it not being a valid transaction. I just assumed it was too early. Then I tried it in May after I got the renewal notice but again it wouldn’t work. I’m assuming it’s because I needed to show proof of insurance? It had been insured for 2 months by that time. It’s odd that DMV knows when you drop your insurance, but they weren’t aware that this bike was insured. Anyway, that is why I ultimately mailed it in with verification of insurance.

Thanks again, bojangle. I appreciate the input. I’ve really been enjoying your participation in the COVID forum, too.
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This web site details the DMV extensions better than the DMV web site. https://www.aclusocal.org/en/know-your-rights/covid19-dmv-extensions. I'm not a huge fan of the ACLU, but gotta give them credit for the info, which seems to be correct.

I just renewed a registration on line, like usual, without any issues. Though I noticed DMV changed to a 3rd party vendor for credit card payments and there's an extra charge for that. :thumbdown. There never used to be. That's weird about the insurance though. Insurance companies are supposed to report directly to DMV, so you could always call your agent if there's an issue.
 
DannoXYZ

DannoXYZ

Well-known member
Online registration sucks. Three of my bikes and 2 cars came back with some error about couldn't be done. This was even before SIP.

Best service was at Los Gatos DMV. They bent over backwards to get me registered. Printed out endless forms and filled it out themselves. Then re-entered those forms and printed out new forms and got me on my way. Amazing!
 
bojangle

bojangle

FN # 40
Staff member
DannoXYZ said:
Online registration sucks. Three of my bikes and 2 cars came back with some error about couldn't be done. This was even before SIP.

Best service was at Los Gatos DMV. They bent over backwards to get me registered. Printed out endless forms and filled it out themselves. Then re-entered those forms and printed out new forms and got me on my way. Amazing!
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Maybe I've been lucky. I've never had an issue with on line DMV registration. :dunno
 
WoodsChick

WoodsChick

I Don't Do GPS
RickM said:
The note on the envelope has been there for a long time.
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D’oh! :laughing
Usually those return envelopes go right into the recycling as soon as I register online. I don’t remember the last time I actually mailed in a registration envelope. At least, that’s the story I’m going with, rather than me being an unobservant dolt :x
 
R

Ride_on

Active member
Anyone have any idea how to get a VIN verification done for registering a used vehicle purchased out of state?

The DMV 'service folks' want $82 to fill out a form that takes three minutes to complete.
 
auditude

auditude

Wut, bodda you?
@OP
To address your question about enforcement after payment has been recd but not processed; whenever I run a vehicle with expired reg, I check if there are any “pending” actions or “fees paid” which gives me additional info as to the status.

Whether or not I scratch a cite IS TOTALLY MY DISCRETION. The driver’s attitude and cooperation has a large impact on the outcome (as in many of my stops/contacts). Though letter of the law and cvc would support a citation - correctable at that, I likely would not if this were the ONLY violation.

Bear in mind, not all officers do this (beyond my comprehension but I’m old school and have seen more harm than good ever come out of NOT running a plate or person out on a stop) so you’re at the mercy of their personal practices.

Running the plate would seem obvious if that were the only probable cause for the contact yet, many officers only go by the tags being expired and fail to check.

@bo et al.
Our agency recently received a LEO policy from DMV granting a “grace period” of enforcement for registration and DL expirations; SUSPENDED OR REVOKED remain enforceable to which currently open DMV field offices WILL allow walk-ins.
 
WoodsChick

WoodsChick

I Don't Do GPS
Thank you for the good information, auditude! And also for being reasonable in your cite/don’t cite approach. Makes sense that a plate would be run in this instance, and I would welcome the opportunity to have my “story” corroborated.

Plonked around today on the remote goaty backroads around our place right outside Kings Canyon National Park. Did 90 miles, and never saw another vehicle, much less any law enforcement :)
 
bpw

bpw

Well-known member
Ride_on said:
Anyone have any idea how to get a VIN verification done for registering a used vehicle purchased out of state?

The DMV 'service folks' want $82 to fill out a form that takes three minutes to complete.
Click to expand...

A couple years ago at least, AAA did out of state cars but not bikes if your a member.
 
F

fumblerooskie

Member
WoodsChick said:
D’oh! :laughing
Usually those return envelopes go right into the recycling as soon as I register online. I don’t remember the last time I actually mailed in a registration envelope. At least, that’s the story I’m going with, rather than me being an unobservant dolt :x
Click to expand...

I had to register a PNO for and the only way I could was to send it in with check or money order. It would not let me do it online. It was the very first time I had mailed in my registration in probably 15-20 years.
 
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