Expired car registration in PA - question! (Dunmore, Sandy: fit in, 2013)

[psudriver88]

Hey all,

So, long story short: i procrastinate, and my inspection AND registration expired yesterday (Oct 31). I drove over to get my car inspected first, but they said they couldn't fit it in for service until today (Nov 1), and thus, I would need to provide a new registration first, as by today the vehicle's registration would technically be expired.

So, I went home and did the online registration renewal and printed out a temporary registration card that i plan to bring with me to the autoport today so that i can get my inspection taken care of.

Here's what I'm worried about, though. I still have expired Oct 2012 registration stickers on my bumper. I go to school at Penn State and park my car a couple miles away from my apartment in a campus lot. They have rent-a-cops patrol those lots to make sure cars have proper parking permits. I'm concerned one of them might spot my expired sticker, and put a citation on my car or something.

I don't know how the law works in this regard. Can they do that? Can they ticket me while i'm not driving? or do i have to be in the car driving for them to pull me over? (in that case, i have my temporary renewal form to show the officer, if that were to happen.)

i'm having the new 2013 stickers mailed to my home address, but that could take over 2 weeks, and then my mom is going to have to turn around and mail them back to me up at school, which could take another week. so there's a potential period of around three weeks where i won't have the updated bumper stickers, and will only have the temporary registration renewal to keep in my glove compartment. i'm going to try to drive infrequently during this period of time, but again, i'm worried about leaving my car parked out in a campus lot where it's exposed to patrol vehicles who might spot those expired stickers, and i was posting here to figure out whether that's something i should be worried about.

anyone have any insight on this? i realize i should have just gotten this all taken care of beforehand, but, as i said, i tend to procrastinate, and unfortunately the fact that the registration and inspection both expired on the same day made things particularly complicated.

EDIT: One other question - knowing my bad luck, in case i get pulled over on my way to the autoport tomorrow, do you think if i explain my story to the officer, he'll let me on my way? i told the autoport worker that i would bring my car in this morning and he took down my name and number, so worst case scenario i could have the officer call the autoport and confirm my story? i'm sure a lot of people who get pulled over claim to be on their way to getting an inspection, but in my case it would be true. the fact that my stickers are expired would only increase my 'profile' to any cops who see me driving by, though, which is why i'm more concerned about the possibility of being pulled over.

[greg42]

Can't guarantee nothing will happen, but on the first day I think the likelihood is small. Your registration IS renewed, no question. If a cop pulls you over, he would run the plate and see that the registration is renewed even though you haven't yet received your sticker. And you also have the temp printout that shows the same. The rent-a-cops should not be able to issue a valid citation for expired reg. I don't think they would have authority for such a thing at all, but the key here is your reg is NOT EXPIRED so I would go complain directly to the rent-a-cop station if something like that happens. Since you're getting the inspection today that sticker will be valid after this morning and won't cause you any more trouble.

I think you're worrying over a very minimal chance of anything happening. I've had a few days expired inspection before and didn't have any trouble. Do yourself a favor though and don't break any other laws on your way to the inspection. (Stop signs, red lights, speed, crosswalks, seat belt, cell phone, etc. Follow TO THE LETTER. If they stop you for one of those violations, THEN they'll likely notice the expired inspection. If you are otherwise inconspicuous and drive directly to the inspection shop, you will likely be fine.)

[thecoalman]

You're in luck:

PennDOT gives break on license and registration inspections - News - The Times-Tribune

DUNMORE - Because of superstorm Sandy, the state Department of Transportation is extending deadlines for expiring driver's licenses, ID cards, and vehicle inspections and registrations.
Vehicle registrations and inspections scheduled to expire on Oct. 31 have been extended until Nov. 15, PennDOT announced.
Driver's licenses and ID cards scheduled to expire between Oct. 26 and Nov. 15 have been extended until Nov. 15.

------------

The rent-a-cops should not be able to issue a valid citation for expired reg. I don't think they would have authority for such a thing at all,

Appears they are regular cops looking at their website with full powers as any police officers.

Penn State University Police

5. to exercise the same powers as are now or may hereafter be exercised under authority of law or ordinance by the police of the municipalities wherein the college or university is located, including, but not limited to, those powers conferred pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 89 Subch. D (relating to municipal police jurisdiction).

6. to prevent crime, investigate criminal acts, apprehend, arrest, and charge criminal offenders and issue summary citations for acts committed on the grounds and in the buildings of the college or university and carry the offender before the proper alderman, justice of the peace, magistrate or bail commissioner and prefer charges against him under the laws of this commonwealth. Except when acting pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 89 Subch. D, campus police shall exercise these powers and perform these duties only on the grounds or within 500 yards of the grounds of the college or university. For the purposes of applying the provisions of 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 89 Subch. D, the grounds and within 500 yards of the grounds of the college or university shall constitute the primary jurisdiction of the campus police.

If you were cited for the registration you'd probably have to go to court and prove it was valid however they could cite you for the expired inspection.

[greg42]

Ah, well, guess the Penn State Police could have cited you, yes. But with the Sandy grace period, they won't. Bonus! I was thinking along the lines of security guards. Penn State Police, if that is the entity in question for the parking lot, can issue citations. But they should also be able to run the plate to find that it is valid through next year. OP is hardly the only person renewing their plate on the last day.

[psudriver88]

Wow, thanks for the info guys. Appreciate it. Very helpful.

You know what is annoying, though? As I said in my post above...I drove over to the autoport on Wednesday, and was told that I couldn't get my car inspected until the registration was renewed...but according to that article you posted above, I could have, since the deadline had been extended two weeks for both inspection and registration. I feel like that's something people working at a place that specializes in inspections should know about! Would have saved me time, stress and gas money if I'd been told about that in person. Oh well...at least I know now.

Thanks again for the replies. I didn't end up getting the inspection done yesterday because it didn't fit into my schedule; I was planning to do it today, but now I may as well wait until Monday, which will be more convenient (I think they're closed over the weekend anyway). Cheers.

[thecoalman]

That information was in Thursdays paper, they probably weren't aware of it or it wasn't in effect yet.

[psudriver88]

Originally Posted by thecoalman

That information was in Thursdays paper, they probably weren't aware of it or it wasn't in effect yet.

Ah, gotcha. Well, thanks again.