CA license plates...

hellfreeze

Golden Member
Dec 7, 2001
1,046
0
0
I've been noticing a lot of cars driving throughout Southern California lately without any license plates...and it's pretty obvious that they weren't just bought.

What's the law about not having any license plates? Is it a fix it ticket or is there a fine?
 

minendo

Elite Member
Aug 31, 2001
35,560
22
81
Originally posted by: hellfreeze
I've been noticing a lot of cars driving throughout Southern California lately without any license plates...and it's pretty obvious that they weren't just bought.

What's the law about not having any license plates? Is it a fix it ticket or is there a fine?
I'd guess that would have to depend on if the car is registered or not.
 

Saga

Banned
Feb 18, 2005
2,718
1
0
If you purchase a vehicle from a private owner and not a dealer, you do not need to plate the car for 31 days and those home made in-transits are actually illegal and a valid excuse to pull you over.
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,038
14,445
146
Depends. If they're new cars, the vehicle is issued a temporary registration and looks like a piece of paper taped to the windshield which you show the cops if you're pulled over. if it's an older car, then it should have both front and rear plates, although many people don't have the front plate. (which can be a $250 fine if the cop wants to be a dick, instead of just a "fix-it ticket)
If the plates were stolen, then the cop would probably just write a fix-it ticket for that as well.
 

E equals MC2

Banned
Apr 16, 2006
2,676
1
0
Probably $25 fine. That's how it is in MA. I persist to keep it off (front) just for lame looks.

I got ticketed for it few times over several years. I got most of them either dropped or just paid $25.
 

hellfreeze

Golden Member
Dec 7, 2001
1,046
0
0
Well I'm asking because my neighbors have a car that's about 2 years old and still bears no plates. So they're just looking at a $200-$300 fine? Are there any points or just the fine?
 

minendo

Elite Member
Aug 31, 2001
35,560
22
81
Originally posted by: hellfreeze
Well I'm asking because my neighbors have a car that's about 2 years old and still bears no plates. So they're just looking at a $200-$300 fine? Are there any points or just the fine?
Is the car registered? If not, they will owe back taxes, registration fees, plating fees, etc.

 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,038
14,445
146
It depends on why they don't have license plates on the car. If they were stolen, then it's about $10 for the fix-it ticket and $25 for the replacment plates. If they've never licensed the vehicle at all, then they'll get hit with a ton of penalties for the overdue registration, PLUS either the fix-it ticket or a ticket for non-compliance.
The penalty schedule is:

If payment is late: The penalty will be the sum of:
1-10 days* 10% of the Vehicle License Fee due for that year/10% of the Weight Fee due for that year, if any
11-30 days* 20% of the Vehicle License Fee due for that year/20% of the Weight Fee due for that year, if any
31 days-1 year* 60% of the Vehicle License Fee due for that year/60% of the Weight Fee due for that year, if any
More than 1 year-2 years 80% of the Vehicle License Fee due for that year/80% of the Weight Fee due for that year, if any
More than 2 years 160% of the Vehicle License Fee due for that year/160% of the Weight Fee due for that year, if any.

If it's a POS car with inexpensive registration, then the fees aren't bad, but if it's a relatively new or expensive car, then the added penalties really make a difference. (ex. $300 registration + 160% = $780)
If they're actually running without any kind of plates/registration, turn them in...it's the neighborly thing to do...:D
 

hellfreeze

Golden Member
Dec 7, 2001
1,046
0
0
Originally posted by: BoomerD
If they're actually running without any kind of plates/registration, turn them in...it's the neighborly thing to do...:D

Yea everything on their registration is paid off. I guess they just don't want to put them on.
 

ObiDon

Diamond Member
May 8, 2000
3,435
0
0
Originally posted by: hellfreeze
Originally posted by: BoomerD
If they're actually running without any kind of plates/registration, turn them in...it's the neighborly thing to do...:D

Yea everything on their registration is paid off. I guess they just don't want to put them on.
why? are they professional getaway drivers? :confused:
 

hellfreeze

Golden Member
Dec 7, 2001
1,046
0
0
Originally posted by: ObiDon
Originally posted by: hellfreeze
Originally posted by: BoomerD
If they're actually running without any kind of plates/registration, turn them in...it's the neighborly thing to do...:D

Yea everything on their registration is paid off. I guess they just don't want to put them on.
why? are they professional getaway drivers? :confused:

I guess they drive fast? Maybe they're worried about people tracing their plates and finding out where they live? I dunno
 
Feb 19, 2001
20,155
23
81
Originally posted by: hellfreeze
Originally posted by: ObiDon
Originally posted by: hellfreeze
Originally posted by: BoomerD
If they're actually running without any kind of plates/registration, turn them in...it's the neighborly thing to do...:D

Yea everything on their registration is paid off. I guess they just don't want to put them on.
why? are they professional getaway drivers? :confused:

I guess they drive fast? Maybe they're worried about people tracing their plates and finding out where they live? I dunno

People wanna cheat the toll cameras. Hah. That's; the first thing I thought of. Or red light cameras even.
 

hellfreeze

Golden Member
Dec 7, 2001
1,046
0
0
Originally posted by: DLeRium
Originally posted by: hellfreeze
Originally posted by: ObiDon
Originally posted by: hellfreeze
Originally posted by: BoomerD
If they're actually running without any kind of plates/registration, turn them in...it's the neighborly thing to do...:D

Yea everything on their registration is paid off. I guess they just don't want to put them on.
why? are they professional getaway drivers? :confused:

I guess they drive fast? Maybe they're worried about people tracing their plates and finding out where they live? I dunno

People wanna cheat the toll cameras. Hah. That's; the first thing I thought of. Or red light cameras even.
Red light camera's maybe...but toll roads maybe. A few years ago I had went through that Express lane down in Southern Cali without any plates (car was a few months old) and I still got a ticket. I guess they either have super powerful camera's to get the VIN or maybe some sort of RIF?