Is this normal? (RL)

[thistlechaser]

I was having such a good weekend, until I picked up my mail. I got a letter from the San Francisco Department of Traffic. Why in the world would they send me mail? I've never in my life driven in SF. I thought maybe it was one of those red light camera glitches.

Turns out it was a ticket, but not speeding. A parking ticket. For my Saturn. The car I traded in two months ago. The ticket was issued three weeks ago.

Apparently the dealer resold it with my license plates still on it. I wouldn't have thought that was okay to do... I did file paperwork with the DMV that I no longer own the car, but I guess it's not processed yet.

I'm really annoyed though. Someone is driving around with my plates on, getting tickets, not paying, and they're being mailed to me.

San Francisco wants various forms, with DMV seals on them, as proof I no longer own the car. I'm planning on going to the dealer tomorrow to see if they can do anything (NOT how I wanted to spend the holiday). I really hope I don't have to spend hours at the DMV trying to get this straightened out...

The deadline is really short, too. 14 days to pay or it goes to collections. My credit is outstanding, this could do serious harm. I'm really worried and very annoyed.

Comments

[bastets-place.livejournal.com]

I would have taken to plates with me when I sold the car. And yes, currently, you are the victim of identity theft, and can (and should) discuss this angrily with whomever you sold the car to.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

That would have been a good idea, wish I had thought of it.

I'm going back to the dealer tomorrow morning. Grrr.

[juliansinger.livejournal.com]

On the bright side, attaching plates is illegal. (On their end/the other guy's end, not yours.)

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Ha! You'd think they'd know better...

[felknight.livejournal.com]

They may not have sold the car with your plates on it. In Florida, the DMV is kinda notorious for sending tickets to owners of cars three or four years (and sometimes several trade-ins) later. They don't update their systems quickly enough, and your name is still associated with the car's VIN number.

[laurelwood.livejournal.com]

This happened to us, too, and it was a real ordeal because we didn't save copies of the filled-out paperwork to transfer ownership. I finally got through to someone at the DMV who helped me sort it out, but it took a while and was enough of a pain in the ass that I was actually glad that the NEXT car we ceased to be owners of was completely totaled in a crash, so it couldn't happen again with that one.

Fingers crossed that you get this resolved ASAP. I'm so sorry it happened.!

[ani-mama.livejournal.com]

What a pain! I hope you can get this resolved quickly. I was not even aware that you are supposed to get new plates with a used car...

[loup_noir]

I was told that in California the plates are registered to the car, not you. In Nevada, my home state, it's the other way around.

The dealer did not do its work properly. This, unfortunately, happens all the time. We sold our Audi back in the whenever. About six months later, we got a parking tickets just like the one you describe. Back then, you could check a few boxes and send the form back in. Sounds like things have become more complex (who knew?) than years ago.

[teaandfailure.livejournal.com]

WOW, thanks for sharing this, I will be sure to take my plate OFF the car and take it with me when I buy my Prius this weekend.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Turns out it varies state by state. Luckily I googled before heading out this morning, and turns out in California (and most other states), when selling a used car, the plates stay with the car. :/ So it becomes a paperwork/DMV issue. I'm going to post more info on all this tonight.

Hope you enjoy your new Prius! :D Which color did you pick?

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

You were told correctly. Luckily I googled before heading out, so I didn't end up getting angry at people when the car is in fact supposed to be sold with the plates on. It's now a paperwork/DMV issue.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Me too! And it turns out it varies state by state. In some, like California, you leave the plates with the car. Others the plates stay with the person.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Thanks! The dealership gave me copies of the paperwork, I just hope it's good enough. The ticket letter says a "DMV stamped" bill of sale. This is just a photocopy of the bill of sale. I hope it's good enough...

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

What a pain! They did sell the plates with my old car, but turns out in California that's what they're supposed to do. So now this is a paperwork/DMV issue. Yay...

[teaandfailure.livejournal.com]

I got blue streak, or something like that... the dark blue one. I would have gotten the light blue, but no one stocks it down here. :(

I am lucky, I live in a state where it is against the law to keep the plates on, if they go into a lot and see a trade-in with plates, the salesperson is penalized.

Also I see what you mean about the legroom, I used to be able to throw my purse down there next to me on the left. NOT ANYMORE SON.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I think we have the same blue! Dark metallic blue or something like that. Usually I get black cars, but this was dark enough that it still worked for me.

Gah, yes. You sort of get used to it, but I wish the whole inside had more space.