Expired Car Registration Questions (San Leandro: foreclosed, restaurant, prices)

[mkk25]

Is it 6 months from due date when car can be impounded in CA. ?

[Dunbar42]

How much were the late fees? I paid around $60 in late fees just for being 2 weeks late this year and was not happy about it. Talk about a regressive tax.

[Curmudgeon]

Our California tags expired while we were en route to our current state. As soon as we closed on our house, a few days after arriving, we went to the DMV, got MO drivers licenses and registered the car here. They couldn't have cared less that our CA tags had expired.

[cb73]

Originally Posted by mkk25

Is it 6 months from due date when car can be impounded in CA. ?

Yes, cars are towable when they've been expired for 6 months.

[ferretkona]

Originally Posted by mkk25

Is it 6 months from due date when car can be impounded in CA. ?

If you are pulled over for a different reason they can impound it even a week after expiring. If expired you are likely unlicensed and/or uninsured. Automatic impound.

[cb73]

Originally Posted by ferretkona

If you are pulled over for a different reason they can impound it even a week after expiring. If expired you are likely unlicensed and/or uninsured. Automatic impound.

Starting January 1st this year, you can no longer be towed "just for being unlicensed." It was unfair to the illegals.

I don't know of any agency that tows cars that are expired less than 6 months--maybe a particular agency is doing that, but the Vehicle Code says 6 months. CVC 22651 Circumstances Permitting Removal...(A) With a registration expiration date in excess of six months before the date it is found or operated on the highway, public lands, or the offstreet parking facility

You generally can't even get a ticket for unregistered until 30 days after you expire--the registration is not due until the actual day of expiration, and you only need to have it postmarked that day, not actually received. (This is the "it's in the mail" premise.)

Of course, with some jurisdictions desperate for revenue, they might find ways around that.

[1200RT]

Originally Posted by ferretkona

If you are pulled over for a different reason they can impound it even a week after expiring. If expired you are likely unlicensed and/or uninsured. Automatic impound.

Originally Posted by cb73

Starting January 1st this year, you can no longer be towed "just for being unlicensed." It was unfair to the illegals.....

One of the many reasons expired reg tags is a great PC stop. There is almost always something else to detain/cite/for. Then you can impound for generic 22651(b) or 22651(h)(1) (in custody).

[Dunbar42]

Originally Posted by 1200RT

One of the many reasons expired reg tags is a great PC stop. There is almost always something else to detain/cite/for. Then you can impound for generic 22651(b) or 22651(h)(1) (in custody).

I'm pretty cynical but even I doubt the police are coming up with reasons to arrest people just so they can impound their car.

[1200RT]

Originally Posted by Dunbar42

I'm pretty cynical but even I doubt the police are coming up with reasons to arrest people just so they can impound their car.

That isn't at all what I said.

Impounding a car is actually a huge PITA, and has an officer tied up for extra time, waiting for tow, with a pissed off offender in the back of his car. My point was, the chances of other citable/impoundable offences is heightened when pulling over for expired reg, so the recent 22651 alterations don't really mean much. You can use other 22651vc's to impound if you want, if there are other laws being broken, other than just expired reg.

[ferretkona]

Every time a officer pulls you over is a new opportunity for county income. A stray seed or bag of weed, stolen property, a empty liqueur bottle or empty beer can. They can pull you over for a tail light and run you and find a warrant.
This is the same for anytime a officer is called to a home. They are not there to keep the piece, just get a piece of your wallet.