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So back in 09 I had an old car that I wanted to get rid of. I put a for sale sign in the window and was sitting at a store on sunrise in copiague. A man who was walking thru the back roads saw the sign and really wanted to buy it. He was in his 50's and walked with a cane. He gave me cash, I signed the title over to him and went to the DMV to transfer my plates over to my new car. Fast forward to today, I get a letter from the town of babylon saying I owe them 2000 dollars in tickets because the VIN number comes back to me! This man never registered the car and is driving around with a bad plate. I saw it parked in front of his house (which I don't wanna stalk out it is in a bad area.) to boot, I'm really not totally sure what his name was. I went to the town with a letter from my insurance stating the dates that I transferred the plates, they want a bill of sale, which I didn't make a copy of! So I go to the cops. they ran the plates (which is how I found out they were bad, they belong to some lady) They said that I have to actually see him in the car and then call 911! Does anyone have any advice, I know I made a really bad move and will definitely remember for the future, but now I am really worried. If this guy hits and runs, or robs a bank It will come back to me! I called another police officer and asked, if he never registered the car then its still under me, cant i take it or have it towed? he kept saying that Its not stolen and I have to prove that I sold it. Again, I know I made a bad move but it just kills me that the cops ran the plate, saw that it was bad and can't do anything. Does anyone know what I could do???
Wait...did i read that right, the cops know the plates are misused, they can't sit on the car and get the guy who most likely has other issues they could probably help him with...
So back in 09 I had an old car that I wanted to get rid of. I put a for sale sign in the window and was sitting at a store on sunrise in copiague. A man who was walking thru the back roads saw the sign and really wanted to buy it. He was in his 50's and walked with a cane. He gave me cash, I signed the title over to him and went to the DMV to transfer my plates over to my new car. Fast forward to today, I get a letter from the town of babylon saying I owe them 2000 dollars in tickets because the VIN number comes back to me! This man never registered the car and is driving around with a bad plate. I saw it parked in front of his house (which I don't wanna stalk out it is in a bad area.) to boot, I'm really not totally sure what his name was. I went to the town with a letter from my insurance stating the dates that I transferred the plates, they want a bill of sale, which I didn't make a copy of! So I go to the cops. they ran the plates (which is how I found out they were bad, they belong to some lady) They said that I have to actually see him in the car and then call 911! Does anyone have any advice, I know I made a really bad move and will definitely remember for the future, but now I am really worried. If this guy hits and runs, or robs a bank It will come back to me! I called another police officer and asked, if he never registered the car then its still under me, cant i take it or have it towed? he kept saying that Its not stolen and I have to prove that I sold it. Again, I know I made a bad move but it just kills me that the cops ran the plate, saw that it was bad and can't do anything. Does anyone know what I could do???
Did you sign and date the title? Did you watch him sign the title too?
I would report the car stolen and have him arrested. If he prodices a dated, signed title as proof of ownership, the date should help clear your name. If not, it gets touchy. He may be guilty of theft but you have to prove he drove the car for the past year.
I would call a lawyer and ask...it's a touchy situation.
ALWAYS get and keep a bill of sale and have the buyer sign the title.
I hear its a crackhouse, its on a dead end street. I wouldn't wanna go in there without backup! I asked if an officer would come with me they said no. I looked up the address to see some of the names that live there to refresh my memory. One of the names seemed like the one, but not 100% sure. The cop ran the name anyway, came up with a few DWI's. I can't believe they can't do anything. I would never get away with that.
Wait...did i read that right, the cops know the plates are misused, they can't sit on the car and get the guy who most likely has other issues they could probably help him with...
Where is this bad neighborhood?
The car belongs to the OP in the cops eyes. By saying the plates are bad, they have to go after the owner, which is the OP. So they told OP, call us when you see the person in the car. I believe their only "right" move would be to pursue the owner.
I hear its a crackhouse, its on a dead end street. I wouldn't wanna go in there without backup! I asked if an officer would come with me they said no. I looked up the address to see some of the names that live there to refresh my memory. One of the names seemed like the one, but not 100% sure. The cop ran the name anyway, came up with a few DWI's. I can't believe they can't do anything. I would never get away with that.
Regardless of what you tell them and what you know, to them, the only fact is that YOU own the vehicle in question.
Did you sign and date the title? Did you watch him sign the title too?
I would report the car stolen and have him arrested. If he prodices a dated, signed title as proof of ownership, the date should help clear your name. If not, it gets touchy. He may be guilty of theft but you have to prove he drove the car for the past year.
I would call a lawyer and ask...it's a touchy situation.
ALWAYS get and keep a bill of sale and have the buyer sign the title.
I dated and signed it but did not watch him sign it. I thought of reporting it stolen and actually mentioned that to the police officer, he said its not stolen or anything, you gave it to him.. you just have to prove that you sold it. I'm going nuts. Thanks everyone for your help. I will try the DMV tomorrow. Then I guess lawyer..ugghhh lesson definitely learned
Regardless of what you tell them and what you know, to them, the only fact is that YOU own the vehicle in question.
Thats how I figured it too, yet I cannot go take my vehicle! Its crazy.
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So I go to the cops. they ran the plates (which is how I found out they were bad, they belong to some lady) They said that I have to actually see him in the car and then call 911! Does anyone have any advice, I know I made a really bad move and will definitely remember for the future, but now I am really worried. If this guy hits and runs, or robs a bank It will come back to me! I called another police officer and asked, if he never registered the car then its still under me, cant i take it or have it towed? he kept saying that Its not stolen and I have to prove that I sold it. Again, I know I made a bad move but it just kills me that the cops ran the plate, saw that it was bad and can't do anything. Does anyone know what I could do???
