Epic Screw-Up State DMV

[LillFilly]

So, my roommate just had a fit over what just happened to him. He went to get his car inspected and was told sorry, your plates are coming back has having been deactivated. He's the only one who's owned this car since he got it from the dealership. He calls the DMV and was told that the computer says the plates were turned in. He tells them they weren't, they're still on his car. They admit that the only answer is that it must be a typo from some other plates, however, they can't get back to him with a solution for 3 days. Even after they'd admitted it's a mistake on their end. Unfortunately, he waited until the last day for inspection, so he'll be driving out of inspection for those 3-days, and is worried about tickets and fines. I suggested he call the local police to see if they might have some advice, but he hates police and refused. I'm betting that the DMV tells him the only solution is for HIM to pay for a new set of plates. Anyone want to wager?

[Pojodan]

Firstly, your roomate shouldn't be waiting for the last minute, but I'm sure that scolding has already been given.

Secondly, yes, I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up having to pay a fee due to an internal clerical error.

My second year of college got off to a rocky start because someone lost the letter I sent in indicating my means of payment for that semester. Naturally no one told me it hadn't been received till I went to get the extra money left over from the loan (Added on a bit so I had money for food and such) and was told I'd be PURGED from the system, so I had to rerequest my class schedule. Naturally, it was utterly horrible as all the good class times were full.

[protege]

Don't even get me started on the DMV. I had to deal with similar stupidity last weekend...

After my dad's cancer scare/auto accident last year, he's been after me to get the MG's title transferred. Up until now, it was technically still his car. So, I got onto Pennsylvania's website, read up on what I have do to, and did it. I got the 4 photos of the car, the original (from the 1980s) title, my insurance paperwork, etc. and went to the Triple-A office. Then everything went pear-shaped...

1. Apparently, the photos have to show the car in as-new condition. You can't have as much as a spot on the bumper, even on a 40-year-old-plus car.

2. You can't have any stickers in the windows, or on the bumpers.

3. The windows have to be rolled up. I keep the windows down, simply because too much heat can (and will) cause the dashboard and seats to crack.

None of this crap is mentioned on the *state's* website anywhere. You'd think as anal-retentive as Pennsylvania is about such things...that it would be. No, I have a feeling that those are the whims of some bureaucrat in Harrisburg, who delights in wasting someone's time over such piddly shit.

Then they tried to get me to pay $95 to get the plates reinstated. Called bullshit on that, since classic plates do not expire, and the fee to get them was paid 30 years ago. So at least I'm not out $95...but I have a feeling that some sort of technical issues will arise over the photos.

[Andara Bledin]

Some states have some truly arcane and Byzantine procedures for the sale and renewal of auto registrations.

I feel for those of you in such states.

^-.-^

[wagegoth]

We got a car from my husband's grandmother's estate. She had a living trust, not a will. It tooks months, numerous trips and calls to the DMV to get it worked out.

I took it in and they kept telling me I needed paperwork from the executor. I kept explaining that there was not executor and no will, it was a living trust, a copy of which I had with me, but they didn't get it. They even hauled out the rule book, and I pointed out the issue, but it still didn't work.

Finally, on probably the third trip, a supervisor took responsibility ( gasp!), had them make copies of the first and signature pages of the trust, and the page that contained the reference to the vehicle.

[thehuckster]

I was once given plates that were already flagged as stolen. I nearly got arrested twice in a week afterwards (both times being stopped by 4 police cars boxing me in). Getting that figured out was an all-day endeavor. Ugh.

[tropicsgoddess]

Wow...that's epic fail from the DMV! I wouldn't be surprised if they made you pay for their fuck up. I just hope my first NY state vehicle inspection, registration (if and when I get my car...I sold my old 93 Civic before moving from Florida) won't be a complete pain in the ass.

[MoonCat]

Are all states DMV's messed up or what?

A woman I used to work with almost got arrested for an unpaid traffic ticket. She had been going through some bad crap in her life, and also moved, so she forgot about the ticket. One day she got a letter telling her a warrant had been issued for her arrest.

Now, years had gone by, and during that time, she had filed a chance of address with the PO, and gotten her driver's license renewed AT LEAST ONCE if not twice. Yet somehow the DMV didn't notice there was an unresolved ticket, PLUS they sent notices to her at her old address. Eventually the warning letter found her at the right address, and she got it taken care of. Pretty scary though.

[MiloMorai]

A ticket has nothing to do with the DMV, it's local PD or Sheriffs.

[wagegoth]

A ticket has nothing to do with the DMV, it's local PD or Sheriffs.

In some states the DMVs are notified of tickets and require you to pay them when you renew your registration or license.

[MoonCat]

In some states the DMVs are notified of tickets and require you to pay them when you renew your registration or license.

Which I think is true here. Not sure, as I don't drive.