Sold a car over a year ago- still getting parking tickets

[spacejamz]

I did this with a friend. I had to fight tooth and nail to get the money back (and I did some of the work), but I got it.

Also I sold another friend a laptop, not knowing he was bad with money. Got shafted $300 in the end. Cheap lesson all things considered.

But now I leant one $500 just recently. I'm not too concerned if she pays me back though, we've been friends for 10 years and I'd just see it as helping a friend in the time of need.

The whole point of my post was to illustrate my response to Juddog that if a party/entity has shown that they are historically irresponsible, why would someone think they would they would change all of a sudden?

 

[SpatiallyAware]

That would be filing a false police report.

MotionMan

I disagree.

I'm not saying report the car as stolen, but the tags themselves were, essentially, stolen.

Maybe your state is different, but I'm almost positive that in my state that's what they do in these situations anyway.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Another example... You mistakenly leave your cellphone in the car tied to the bluetooth system.

The new owner realizes that a phone is still tied to bluetooth and starts knowingly racking up international calls.

Same premise.

 

[Kyle]

Are the tickets themselves in your name? If yes you're kinda screwed and you'll have to keep persuing it. If they're not in your name I would just drop them off in the person's mailbox. (going to assume you got their address as part of the transaction process)

Yes the tickets are all still in my name. For those saying to report the car stolen etc- she has the title w/ my signature on it releasing ownership so I don't think that'd work. She just never went to the DMV to finish the process of transferring the registration etc to her name.

 

[Spungo]

Report the plates as stolen.

:thumbsup:

I wonder if she could get nailed for identity theft. Technically, by using your plate, she's pretending to be you. How is that any different from filing a mortgage application in your name or using a fake ID?

Getting the police involved is asking for a whole mess of trouble. Use your spare key to take the car from the location stated on the parking tickets, remove your plates from the car, and set the car on fire.

 

[momeNt]

It is up to the seller to take the plates.

I'm really surprised you read things about selling the car yourself and did not come across any information stating that you need to remove the plates once you sell it....

 

[Juddog]

Are you really that stupid and cannot figure out what he means??? If you know your friend is a really bad with money, would you loan him $1000?

That analogy has absolutely nothing to do with the situation that was presented, on top of being terrible.

Quit defending the moron and think for yourself.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Yes the tickets are all still in my name. For those saying to report the car stolen etc- she has the title w/ my signature on it releasing ownership so I don't think that'd work. She just never went to the DMV to finish the process of transferring the registration etc to her name.

Don't report the car as stolen, report the plates as stolen. They will flag them as stolen plates (not stolen car) which will at the very least stop the tickets, but also hopefully get the owner pulled over and harassed.

 

[randay]

yup, report car as stolen. if they did not register it, then it is under your name and still your property. you should also be paying those tickets. end of story.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

yup, report car as stolen. if they did not register it, then it is under your name and still your property. you should also be paying those tickets. end of story.

Not the car, the tags.

He very likely could have some issues by reporting the car itself, IE the VIN, as stolen.

 

[Juddog]

I still don't get why OP gave the person the plates with the car; the first instruction of selling a car is to take the plates and turn them in.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

I still don't get why OP gave the person the plates with the car; the first instruction of selling a car is to take the plates and turn them in.

He fscked up, basically. It is the #1 rule of selling a car.... Don't leave the plates or registration with it.

But some states do keep the plate with the car, so I can see where someone can get confused.

 

[Juddog]

He fscked up, basically. It is the #1 rule of selling a car.... Don't leave the plates or registration with it.

But some states do keep the plate with the car, so I can see where someone can get confused.

Ah ok didn't realize that; in my state that's the very first thing that the state instructions you to do. In NYS, for example, they can suspend your license if you don't surrender your plates when selling your car.

 

[Kyle]

Wow guys look at the info above- in WA the plates stay with the car unless you pay to xfer them to a new car- the DMV does NOT tell you to take the plates when selling the car- they tell you to file a bill of sale which I did.

I get this may not be the same in every state but saying I'm a dumbass by following the DMV instructions seems a bit harsh - seemed the best place to look to get the correct info on how to sell the car and protect myself.

 

[BoomerD]

He fscked up, basically. It is the #1 rule of selling a car.... Don't leave the plates or registration with it.

But some states do keep the plate with the car, so I can see where someone can get confused.

While in SOME states, the seller does keep the plates, under normal transactions in Washington state, the plate stays with the vehicle. In this case, the OP did the right thing. It's the buyer who hasn't completed the transaction with DMV to save the costs of transferring the registration into his/her name. If nothing else, when the registration expires, the new owner will either have to deal with the DMV...or drive with expired tabs. (and the OP will have to deal with even more headaches.)

 

[Kyle]

While in SOME states, the seller does keep the plates, under normal transactions in Washington state, the plate stays with the vehicle. In this case, the OP did the right thing. It's the buyer who hasn't completed the transaction with DMV to save the costs of transferring the registration into his/her name. If nothing else, when the registration expires, the new owner will either have to deal with the DMV...or drive with expired tabs. (and the OP will have to deal with even more headaches.)

Oh that's happened already- tabs are expired- that was one of the handful of tickets I got last month. I don't think she was driving when she got the ticket though - may have been given along w/ the parking ticket? not 100% on that.

 

[Spungo]

Wow guys look at the info above- in WA the plates stay with the car unless you pay to xfer them to a new car- the DMV does NOT tell you to take the plates when selling the car- they tell you to file a bill of sale which I did.

I get this may not be the same in every state but saying I'm a dumbass by following the DMV instructions seems a bit harsh - seemed the best place to look to get the correct info on how to sell the car and protect myself.

Next time you do something, search the internet for "mistakes" related to what you are doing. House buying mistakes. Car buying mistakes. Use the word "sucks" when checking companies or products.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Well that is really stupid.

I mean how can they say leave the plate with the car, then provide no method of cancelling the tag in cases just like this?


And yeah, I agree, the OP did fine. Just a crappy system in his state.

 

[Juddog]

Oh that's happened already- tabs are expired- that was one of the handful of tickets I got last month. I don't think she was driving when she got the ticket though - may have been given along w/ the parking ticket? not 100% on that.

Damn that sucks.

I was looking online, in regards to selling cars in WA, and they had this advice:

"Step Three - Filing

You need the file the report of sale in five days. You can do it online for nothing, or at a vehicle licensing office, which will involve a fee, as these are privately run. The intent is to protect you in case the buyer runs up parking tickets or impound fees before transferring the title to their name. Make absolutely certain that you file the report within the five day limit."

 

[Kyle]

Yeah the system sucks- I guess that was the point of my rant- the bill of sale protects me from being liable for the tickets, I just had no idea I'd have to re-prove it every single time...horribly inefficient.

 

[Kyle]

Damn that sucks.

I was looking online, in regards to selling cars in WA, and they had this advice:

"Step Three - Filing

You need the file the report of sale in five days. You can do it online for nothing, or at a vehicle licensing office, which will involve a fee, as these are privately run. The intent is to protect you in case the buyer runs up parking tickets or impound fees before transferring the title to their name. Make absolutely certain that you file the report within the five day limit."

Yep- so when I was researching selling cars, it all looked so straightforward- file the bill of sale w/in 5 days and I'm good- they just don't tell you that it's up to you to contest all the tickets they get using that bill of sale. I (I guess stupidly) thought it would take my name off the car- but not so until the new owner transfers title/reg.

 

[sixone]

Yep- so when I was researching selling cars, it all looked so straightforward- file the bill of sale w/in 5 days and I'm good- they just don't tell you that it's up to you to contest all the tickets they get using that bill of sale. I (I guess stupidly) thought it would take my name off the car- but not so until the new owner transfers title/reg.

Don't beat yourself up about it. Maybe someone will read this thread and not make the same mistake you did.

As for being downtown, round up a few friends, and divvy up the area to cover as much ground as quickly as possible. You should be able to find in a few hours.

Also, check her FB. She may be tagging where she hangs out, which would narrow the possibilities considerably.

 

[Coalfax]

You could always try using the AT effect and see if we can use our collective power to find the car and you can go and just get the tags... The tickets themselves should give a pretty good area to cover to find it if they are all parking tickets though

 

[BoomerD]

Don't beat yourself up about it. Maybe someone will read this thread and not make the same mistake you did.

As for being downtown, round up a few friends, and divvy up the area to cover as much ground as quickly as possible. You should be able to find in a few hours.

Also, check her FB. She may be tagging where she hangs out, which would narrow the possibilities considerably.

You could always try using the AT effect and see if we can use our collective power to find the car and you can go and just get the tags... The tickets themselves should give a pretty good area to cover to find it if they are all parking tickets though

What good would either of these do? He can't drag the buyer to the DMV and force her to register, he can't remove the plates from the vehicle without possibly getting arrested for theft, (remember, the plates go with the vehicle here), and even the local cops can't do anything except possibly writing her a ticket for failure to transfer the registration...IF you can find one and get them to write the ticket. (most likely, they'll just tell him that it's a civil case and tell him to get a lawyer)

 

[sixone]

Are the tickets being transferred to her, based on the information you're providing when you get them taken out of your name? If so, check here to see if she has any outstanding warrants.

Might be a good idea to check there, anyway. If you can find out where she is, you could send the cops in to pick her up.