No more dealer plates/paper plates in California

Sure, it's probably 90% about the revenue but there's also a 'justice' angle as well. Imagine you were hit-n-run by a Honda Civic with no plates. Good luck tracking down the offender.

They do need to make better protections for consumers when the dealer fails to submit paperwork. I've had this happen to me 3 times in recent years...went wayyyy past the 90 day deadline each time. I'll be damned if I should have to pay a penalty for their ineptitude/laziness.

 

Of course revenue is part of it but I have always been amazed at how you can drive a car in California with no plate of any kind on it. It makes it almost impossible to identify a car from the outside. Yes CA is looking for money wherever it can but I do think this is a step in the right direction and puts CA in line with most of the rest of the world that requires the display of plates at ALL times (even when parked).

 

Another band-aid solution from inept bureaucrats. Why can't the dealers plate the cars upon delivery and use a dealer's portal on the DMV website where they can activate the registration upon sale of the vehicle? No waiting period, permanent plates attached before vehicle drives off lot, buyer leaves with plates and valid registration from mile one.

Given this law doesn't take effect for 2.5 years, wouldn't it be easier to create a dealer's DMV portal than create an entire temporary plate scheme??? AAA already has a DMV portal, copy and modify that one, give individual account login info to each licensed dealer. Done.

 

they kind of stated in the article already: This way, the Police has a way to fine you when your temporary plate expires, generating more revenue.

 

Your suggestion would work well for any vehicle sold without a prior lien; mostly new cars. But many used cars have existing liens that must be paid off before being able to acquire clear title to register the vehicle in the new owner's/lienholder's name.

 

Just another job added to the dealers. I have a dealer's license and the state makes us work for them for free. Collect tax and then send it to the state. Then you need to make sure they receive it, or you will have to pay it. This state is so anti business; it's really insane. Don't get me started with the dept of occupational licensing

 

There is a mini cooper on my block with Ferrari of Beverly Hills dealer plates on it for a pretty long time, maybe 6 months now.

 

I always found the dichotomy between the "no front plate is a major offense!" and "temporary/dealer plates can be left on indefinitely" attitudes of the CHP and other gov't agencies to be amusing.

 

Not true. Dealer plates are a ticket, but most people swap them back after paying it.

 

Cars should have a plate- permanent or temporary- period. To try to bend this to a "social justice" issue is just plain stupid. Provide adequate time for the temp plate to suffice and all is well (I'll leave it to cali to decide what is "adequate"...it would have to be more than 2 weeks that's for sure.)

 

ugh, platinum plates. usually the worst of the dbags

 

This is a good proposition IMHO. I don't think they are targetting the rich people who can afford registering the vehicle but for some other demographics that's trying to beat the system.

Lot's of cars out there with dealer plates for years and we are pretty sure they are trying to dodge registration. Only people who see the same car for months or a year with dealer plates know there's something going on but for cops they won't know, ONLY if they pull them over.

I know a couple of heads who does this to dodge registration for years. Having this strict policy that all cars even new from dealer should have plates will address this issue.

 

License plates ...........we don't need no stinkin license plates........! ! !

 

This is how it's done in most states, the dealer has the plates and put them right on the car.

 

File this with dark window tint tickets.

 

I've never heard of anyone getting pulled over, let alone getting a ticket, for no plate. and I know a lot who did the dealer plate thing for years.

meanwhile I got 3 no front plate tickets while parked on the street...

 

lol

I don't know why this has taken so long to make law. Sure it would be great if they had a portal and upgraded system, but temp tags are the norm in the ol' USA.

 

Correct their not getting pulled over for dealer plates; however, if they get pulled over for some other reason then this is the only time officers will know the registration is expired (or not). Then they will receive a "fix-it" ticket to provide a paid registration receipt or pay the full fine.

Now if the registration is all up-to-date but with dealer plates they CAN still receive "fix it" ticket to install the plates back. Of course, this is a very cheap ticket so nobody is worried being fined. I recall it's like $30 in Riverside, CA if you get cited. Very cheap.

 

I have been pulled over and had a cop think my 2 character plate is a dealer plate. Once they run it and it comes back legit, then they usually joke with me about it. Most people think they are dealer plates.

 

During my 26+ years owning and driving in California, I was hit-and-run twice by cars with no plates....

Also had a couple altercations where - guess what? - not only was the car not registered (it had plates, but long expired registration for a completely different VIN), but no insurance, one driver had a suspended license, the other had no ID.....

I think the front plate law in CA (and CT) is stupid, and being pulled over for that is a waste.

OTOH, I think that CA should issue plates at the point of sale (dealer) or require them at all times. In our little town in CT, the police now have plate readers, they know in an instant if your registration is valid (they actually caught us, we accidentally forgot to mail the renewal, it was a legit ticket though it irritated me).

NFW is this "social injustice".

 

In Cali, the plates go with the car unless they are personalized. Ive gone into AAA and had a car clear title car plated many times. There is no reason a dealer cannot have a folder full of plates and stickers just like AAA.

With that said, wife bought a CPO Jag last month. No plates and the paper plate free ride is approaching.

 

I have lived in 7 different states in last 30 years. Every state has some sort of temporary plates to be put on the car before leaving the lot. For example, you need to have a paper temporary license with expiration date to be put on the rear window in NJ. Other states, they normally put paper(Coated) license plate with expiration date where the real plates must be.

In CA, I have seen cars driving without plates. My neighbor's car has been running without a plate over a year. With my expericnce buying cars in CA, plates come in to your mail box in 2-3 weeks after you purchase the car. CA should have some sort of temp plates at least. Finally it is happening in 2009 I guess.