BajaNomad

SENTRI Alert

bajaguy - 12-18-2013 at 01:35 PM

This was from the Punta Banda Newsletter - Don't shoot the messenger:
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For my Baja friends, I need to share my recent experience at the Sentri Office.

I went to my appointment on Fri the 13th to add our second car to the SENTRI program.

I gave the officer my S. Dakota car registration and my CA drivers license and had the car inspected and was told I was good to go.

Less than an hour later I got a call from Sentri telling me that I could not have conflicting states and either had to get a CA registration or a S. Dakota drivers license...that I was breaking the law and could have my Sentri pass taken away.

Since I was in CA, I first got the smog certificate (1 hour) and then went to the DMV and got the car reregistered in CA (2 hours).

I went back to Sentri on Mon the 16th and got my new Sentri car certification in half an hour.

Just a heads up for those with S. Dakota registration.

willardguy - 12-18-2013 at 01:56 PM

so did you also have to buy ca. insurance?

bajaguy - 12-18-2013 at 02:15 PM

This was not me, I reposted from another Baja site
Quote:
Originally posted by willardguy
so did you also have to buy ca. insurance?

Tacodawgtim - 12-18-2013 at 04:08 PM

Not sure about sentri, but I am sure that they are correct. People who try to avoid paying sales tax, registration, license fees in California that use South Dakota, Texas as escapes, and I am sure other staes are equally beneficial need to be very careful that all the paperwork matches. Drivers license ,insurance ,registration. It can be very expensive if you just do part of the steps. Nothing wrong with doing it all the way but if you get caught doing just part of it can get real expensive. When I bought our new class a motor home in california I was asked if I wanted to take delivery out of state to avoid paying sales tax. I said sure... Sales tax on 200k is enough to ma it worth while. Then I started doing my research.. If I missed one littlte thing it could be considered fraud.. Not worth the money..

JAG - 12-18-2013 at 06:53 PM

In November I bought a new Toyota Tacoma through Costco as it was much cheaper than direct through the dealers. I licensed it in California as the fee was the same as in AZ, Where our 2nd house and my drivers license was issued.
The time wait to get an appt at Otai Mesa was 35 days. I checked online and found at San Luis I could get an appt the next day.
I show up at San Luis with a Cal license plate and AZ license. NO GO. I had to re license the car in AZ so the Plate and the license matched.
Costly mistake as no refunds on Cal plates. Plates and license must match.
:no:

bajabound2005 - 12-18-2013 at 09:54 PM

but the dilemma is, for us expats, we are not US residents...so really we can't register our cars and get licenses in any state. so what do we do? to import your car to MEX it has to exactly 10 years old. we are in limbo.

bajaguy - 12-19-2013 at 08:44 AM

It's really simple

Find a state you like with the least tax liabilities and become a "resident" of that state........go the whole route with drivers license, vehicle registration and voter registration.

There are businesses that specialize in/cater to 'snowbirds" with no "permanent" US residence. South Dakota comes to mind, there are others.......besides a vacation in South Dakota would be fun....in the spring and summer.

Just one of the many adventures of living in a foreign country
Quote:
Originally posted by bajabound2005
but the dilemma is, for us expats, we are not US residents...so really we can't register our cars and get licenses in any state. so what do we do? to import your car to MEX it has to exactly 10 years old. we are in limbo.

durrelllrobert - 12-19-2013 at 09:37 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy
This was from the Punta Banda Newsletter - Don't shoot the messenger:
*******************************************
For my Baja friends, I need to share my recent experience at the Sentri Office.

I went to my appointment on Fri the 13th to add our second car to the SENTRI program.

I gave the officer my S. Dakota car registration and my CA drivers license and had the car inspected and was told I was good to go.

Less than an hour later I got a call from Sentri telling me that I could not have conflicting states and either had to get a CA registration or a S. Dakota drivers license...that I was breaking the law and could have my Sentri pass taken away.

Since I was in CA, I first got the smog certificate (1 hour) and then went to the DMV and got the car reregistered in CA (2 hours).

I went back to Sentri on Mon the 16th and got my new Sentri car certification in half an hour.

Just a heads up for those with S. Dakota registration.

So, the person posting on the PBBB must have shown a physical address on their CA DL and that would indicate i that they LIVED there?
Mine only shows a PMB and I certainly don't live in that.

You are only breaking the CA law by having SD plates if you live or work in CA, which I don't believe that the poster does.

[Edited on 12-19-2013 by durrelllrobert]

Hook - 12-19-2013 at 12:56 PM

Bajabound, that 10 year law was changed a few years ago. I cant remember the details but it is a whole range of years; something like 5-20 years old. But it must be a car that was assembled in the US, Canada or Mexico.

viabaja - 12-19-2013 at 05:12 PM

As it should be. Drive a car registered in CA, SD, Arizona, or wherever, get a license from that state. Yeah, I don't like the DMV costs in Ca. either, but too many people skate by living in Ca. and registering their cars or RV's in other states.

CortezBlue - 12-20-2013 at 01:33 PM

Anything is possible with the SENTRI folks, but I would have to say, I don't think they would let a different Drivers Lic and different Registration fly. Those P'sOS are so ego driven, they would gladly flag this, just to make you come back again.