Katiejay99
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Crossing border with expired plates
I will be crossing the border into the US in the near future, but the plates on my vehicle are expired, has anyone had a problem doing this?
I am unable to get a current sticker until I get back in the US and I'm just curious if the computers at the crossing tell them that a vehicle plate
is outdated or if they notice it, will they hassle you?
[Edited on 9-14-2008 by Katiejay99]
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gnukid
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They are not concerned about expired reg. Besides, you have every legal right to return to complete a new reg. You could be stopped later by ca
highway patrol and if so they may give you a fix-it ticket which is resolved through registering properly. Not a problem.
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Katiejay99
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Thank you, that makes me feel much better. I was a little worried about it.
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Hook
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There was a post on one of the Sonora boards this week stating that the AZ DMV (or their equivalent) was stopping all US plated cars coming into AZ
from Nogales Mexico to see if they had:
1-current registration
2-current insurance
This was last Wednesday, the 10th of Sept. It was not a permanent set-up.
It wouldnt surprise me to see them doing this at some of their other border crossings.............or for California to start doing this, with it's
budget crisis.
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Hook
There was a post on one of the Sonora boards this week stating that the AZ DMV (or their equivalent) was stopping all US plated cars coming into AZ
from Nogales Mexico to see if they had:
1-current registration
2-current insurance
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What about Mexican plated cars. Don't they need insurance?
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Hook
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I would guess so. Maybe they were checking those, too.
The original post I am referring to was intended as a warning for people with FM-2s and 3s who often let their registration and insurance expire.
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DanO
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Anyone with a SENTRI pass should be careful about this. My understanding is that failure to have current registration and U.S. insurance is grounds
for pulling the pass. They may pick this up during one of those random secondary checks they do on SENTRI passholders.
\"Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.\" -- Frank Zappa
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thebajarunner
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Since a boarder (sic) is one who you are feeding,
and expired plates would indicate you are out of food,
my guess is that "crossing" this "boarder" by withholding food
would result in one very unhappy character....
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gnukid
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The border crossing has no jurisdiction over invalid registration. Its totally normal that many cars returning would be out of current reg and on the
way to renewal, so after passing the border, then the highway patrol or traffic cop may cite you for no insurance and no registration which if
corrected within 30 days would be a fix-it with no fine, erased and complete. But if you get ticketed and fail to correct after 30 days and fail to
get a temp 30 day sticker, it then it would become a serious issue and a big fine without the right to drive the car.
Many friends and myself have worried a great deal about this for no reason. But do get it corrected right away, in fact you make a insurance
commitment in advance of arriving with your insurer, and go to the DMV, meaning do pay them first and get a temp sticker, maintain the receipt even if
you don't have the smog and doing so might reduce your potential increased fines (which are minor).
BTW you can also go to the DMV every 30 days, for a 30 day sticker while you get smogged... so you can drive. They also have a special permit for
driving off road cars across public highways, $15 so you could get a 30 day passes while you visit and pay all the bills, try for smog and then get a
round trip off road pass to go wherever you want or return to Baja. Obviously, its reasonable that you are making every effort to comply to the
requirements, its possible to succeed or fail and remain legal.
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by gnukid
BTW you can also go to the DMV every 30 days, |
Oh Lord...You must be kidding.
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Dave
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Being right AND wrong
| Quote: | Originally posted by gnukid
The border crossing has no jurisdiction over invalid registration. |
It doesn't matter. They can be pri*ks about anything. I once started a conversation with a guard by saying, "You don't have jurisdiction..."
I was right but it cost me four hours in secondary.
You live and learn.
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gnukid
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by gnukid
BTW you can also go to the DMV every 30 days, |
Oh Lord...You must be kidding. |
Dennis its the process (baja) people go through to become legal, its the law, have you seen those colored square stickers on peoples back windows with
the letters of the month, thats a 30 day legal reg. Not everyone is rich enough to resolve these problems as quickly as they might like.
Oh and by the way, the law changed in CA and the old rule that said you were a higher risk if you have no previous INS is illegal so its totally fine
to call an insurer and say you were in mexico and had no CA ins, you should still qualify for the lowest rates.
Perhaps you might recall the days of yore where DMV laws for ranches and farms on the outskirts were more lax, they still exist to help people.
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BajaWarrior
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In order to obtain a temporary sticker you have to post the registration fees and the 40% fine for being late, plus, you'll have to provide insurance
just to get that far. Then you drive across.
BEFORE your registration expires no matter what circumstances, pay for a NON-OPERATIONAL STATUS for only $10, it's good for as many years as you plan
to NOT keep your registration current.
Can only be obtained BEFORE registration expires. Doesn't make it legal to even have towed but no late fees.
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by gnukid
Perhaps you might recall the days of yore where DMV laws for ranches and farms on the outskirts were more lax, they still exist to help people.
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I wasn't questioning the process, only the act of going to the DMV. I'd rather go to the dentist. In the San Diego area, the DMV is like no other
place in the world.
AAA all the way.
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Katiejay99
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I am sew glad that eye have spell cheque so I can be sure to use the rite words. LOL. Thank you for pointing that out to me.
Thank you for all the information. Do you know if I can get a temporary permit in California even though I will be going to Colorado? If not, I guess
I will have to just grin and bear it and have faith that I will arrive unscathed.
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gnukid
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Yes you can use the method I described to begin legally and go to Colorado and return, but if you have these stickers one would expect you would be
pulled over more often and questioned about it.
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Mango
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I drove across the border several times without a registration sticker, as someone had peeled it off my plate. My car was registered; but, it's
sticker was missing. I never heard a peep from the BP about it; although, I had paperwork to prove it was legal.
Also, drove all over CA without a sticker for several months. I called about a replacement sticker; but, was informed it would cost me $17.50. I
decided to take my chances, play dumb if pulled over, and show the police officer my current reg. since I only had a few months to go until I had to
renew my reg.
I never got pulled over. Maybe the CHP guys don't check as much since they have the new license plate scanning computers/cameras on their cars.
When I renewed my reg and put my new sticker on.. I sliced it several times in an "XXXX" pattern with a razor blade as per a friends advice. Now if
someone tries to steal it, it will come off in little chunks. 
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comitan
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If you are driving a Mexican plated car in San Diego and your mexican registration is not current, and they pull you over they will call the location
your car is registered in Mexico to verify and if the registration has expired they will impound your vehicle it happened to me. Had to call a friend
in La Paz go to my house get registration and have it renewed and faxed to the impound yard and PAID.
Strive For The Ideal, But Deal With What\'s Real.
Every day is a new day, better than the day before.(from some song)
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
“The sincere pursuit of truth requires you to entertain the possibility that everything you believe to be true may in fact be false”
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