Regional Talk > Southern California > DMV A warning

reply to DanHo

Re: DMV A warning

reply to TheRul
More crap from our wonderful legislature, throwing a wrench into the works again. Since both of my vehicles are due in July I received the registration renewals in the mail only about 1.5 weeks before they were due. There was a slip enclosed which explained that owners have 30 days' grace period beyond the due date.

Apparently, since this was only a temporary change, the DMV data processing was not set up to handle the "late" payments. I paid online, one vehicle on the day before it was due (due+29), and the other on the due date (due+30) so I received immediate confirmation of payment received. In both cases the DMV sent me a Notice of Delinquent Registration about a week after I paid. When I received each delinquent notice I tried paying again on the DMV website but the second payment was rejected, confirming to me that my original payment was posted correctly.

On the plus side, I received the 2012 tags in record time for both vehicles compared to past years.

The DMV has an explanation for this mess, which I found conveniently buried on their website: »dmv.ca.gov/pubs/newsrel/newsrel1···wals.htm

at the link there is an image of the explanation memo which was included with registrations starting in July 2011 that are affected by this temporary change.

Fortunately, the DMV goes back to it's usual way of doing things on Jan. 1, 2012 as the law which created this expires then. See Calif. Vehicle Code § 4601(c) for the gory details.

In the meantime, it created a BIG headache for me since one of LA's meter maids cited me for expired registration. Of course I contested the ticket. At first they graciously wanted to reduce it from $25 to $10 (with proof of correction) but after several trips to the parking bureau and filing various forms, letters and other evidence I managed to get it thru their thick heads that the vehicle code was on my side, and although I had not yet received the 2012 tags the vehicle was registered in every legal sense. It only involved many hours of typing and about three trips to the parking bureau, but I have nothing better to do anyhow....

I wonder... how many $millions the DMV wasted having to send out erroneous delinquent notices to all those owners who registered after the normal due date and in having to include all those explanation slips in each registration renewal envelope? And in having to do all the paperwork and publishing that comes with changing a state law, a change which is in effect for only six months?

I also wonder how many people thought their registration was late and paid the late fee (which will be refunded at some point*) but the state conveniently keeps the interest accrued until a refund is made??

And I also wonder how many people were wrongly cited for expired registration and just paid the ticket instead of fighting it like I did??

*Anyone remember the state tax refund IOUs??

reply to TheRul

reply to TheRul
Just be like Steve Jobs and get a new car every 6 months. You will never needs tags again....

I don't need a cult following. or do I...

reply to TheRul
Excuse the resurrection of this thread but...
Bought new vehicle last Feb.
My registration renewal arrived yesterday. 10 weeks early.

This proves the govt's conspiracy (against TheRul )

It was figured out. It was a conspiracy to cover a mistake. People got a 1 month extension, but the local DMV can not cover it. People will get a refund from the DMV sometime soon.
--
Never insult seven men when all you have is a six shooter

reply to Waldothe3rd