Pulled over by police and bike hauled off to impound.

A lot of weird things can happen to motorcycle riders. One of the weirdest that happened to me - I'm cruising along when a cop pulls me over and asks for my registration. No problem. Then he says my bike is not registered. Of course it is I insist. I always pay my registration.

Then he points to my licence tag showing that its lapsed. I always expect my registration to come in the mail and I always pay it. But it never came and it was over due. He searches and finds no record of my bike. I'm stunned. Then he calls a tow truck. They hang my carefully restored cafe bike on a sling and haul it away. The cop is sympathetic and drives me to a friends house close by and drops me off.

It turns out that the DMV just completely deleted my bike from the system for no reason. There was no record that it ever existed. I had to pay hundreds of dollars to get it out of impound and create a new title for it. It made no difference that it was entirely the DMVs fault.

Its no wonder that I have a bit of an attitude towards the DMV (and authority in general).

Did you have the previous registration papers to show them?

You got screwed. What state are you in?

All too common in California, the state where Jim and I both live.

Twice, I have had to spend hours and hours proving to the Dept of Motor Vehicles that my Commando exists legally. Apparently the DMV data base does not recognize my bike’s serial number

Each time I had to make an appointment and haul the bike to the CA Highway Patrol for an inspection and obsequiously beg a bureaucrat in a militaristic costume to confirm that my Commando engine, frame, and transmission are all stamped with the serial number stated on my title document and my expiring or expired registration papers.

Both times I asked the DMV clerk to please see that their data base was amended. Yadda yadda

Lot of screwups today, in our computerized society. Fraud being a major one. My credit card company informed me I had just financed a new car. In the tank for $22,000. On the bright side, I was off the hook and my attorney got me $15,000 from the dealership that sold the car and $10,000 from the bank that financed it.

Best thing you can do is keep every receipt/record for everything. Check daily your financial accounts.

In September someone helped themselves to my Trackmaster Norton project. I had it titled in california a long time ago, it has the blue tag with CA VIN numbers pop riveted to the frame. I have the title. When the WA police ran the title they found it was registered to someone in the CA bay area with a Cushman scooter. That just about about finishes any hope of getting it back.

xbacksideslider said:

All too common in California, the state where Jim and I both live.

Twice, I have had to spend hours and hours proving to the Dept of Motor Vehicles that my Commando exists legally. Apparently the DMV data base does not recognize my bike’s serial number

Each time I had to make an appointment and haul the bike to the CA Highway Patrol for an inspection and obsequiously beg a bureaucrat in a militaristic costume to confirm that my Commando engine, frame, and transmission are all stamped with the serial number stated on my title document and my expiring or expired registration papers.

Both times I asked the DMV clerk to please see that their data base was amended. Yadda yadda

Click to expand...

As AI (artificial intelligence) increases, native intelligence (common sense) decreases.

how long are you gonna put with the nazi state of california... just move ( i can say that because i don't live there although i know its not that easy to do) feeling your pain...

xbacksideslider said:

All too common in California, the state where Jim and I both live.

Twice, I have had to spend hours and hours proving to the Dept of Motor Vehicles that my Commando exists legally. Apparently the DMV data base does not recognize my bike’s serial number

Each time I had to make an appointment and haul the bike to the CA Highway Patrol for an inspection and obsequiously beg a bureaucrat in a militaristic costume to confirm that my Commando engine, frame, and transmission are all stamped with the serial number stated on my title document and my expiring or expired registration papers.

Both times I asked the DMV clerk to please see that their data base was amended. Yadda yadda

Click to expand...

Yes I'm in Calif and my experience was close to yours John. Fortunately the CHP inspecting my bike accepted my explanation along with the serial number list off my old Haynes Norton manual. They also allowed me to ride the bike to inspection with a temp registration. Being such an old classic bike they cut me some slack. The govt people involved were somewhat reasonable - it was the damn computers and maybe some distracted DMV employee who dragged their finger over the delete button who cause me so much grief.

Imagine watching your bike dangling from a tow truck sling - what could possible go wrong.

jseng1 said:

A lot of weird things can happen to motorcycle riders. One of the weirdest that happened to me - I'm cruising along when a cop pulls me over and asks for my registration. No problem. Then he says my bike is not registered. Of course it is I insist. I always pay my registration.

Then he points to my licence tag showing that its lapsed. I always expect my registration to come in the mail and I always pay it. But it never came and it was over due. He searches and finds no record of my bike. I'm stunned. Then he calls a tow truck. They hang my carefully restored cafe bike on a sling and haul it away. The cop is sympathetic and drives me to a friends house close by and drops me off.

It turns out that the DMV just completely deleted my bike from the system for no reason. There was no record that it ever existed. I had to pay hundreds of dollars to get it out of impound and create a new title for it. It made no difference that it was entirely the DMVs fault.

Its no wonder that I have a bit of an attitude towards the DMV (and authority in general).

Click to expand...

The same thing can happen in VA. They will delete the record, including the title when an old vehicle is not registered for a certain time (don't know the time limit). Happened to me. If you've lost the physical title, you're screwed. I had to get my congressman to intercede and force the DMV to replace my lost title. Even so, I had to re-pay the sales tax and titling fee even though the bike never left VA since new. In my case it was unregistered because it was in storage so at least I wasn't dealing with a cop on the side of the road.

Why are there 48 different registrations and 48 different driver’s licenses in the same country that has 48 interconnected states?

I did the dance in Texas after 38 years storage, although it was somewhat easier than above it was still a PITA.... Was asked why I waited all this time to seek current registration because once it came off of the rolls they had to work to reenter it.... It took two weeks for tags, which to make matters worse I declined to replace opting to keep the originals..... I had every bit of paperwork with me at the time which meant they could not put me off too. Score 1 for the little guy.... Still smiling a years later.

I had to seek a new title on a barn find Commando.

It took three months and two appearances in court after the MSHP did a search to confirm it was not stolen.
When all paper work was in order I applied to the local DMV for licensing.
No safety inspection, no license.
I made it clear I would be in violation if I rode to the inspection station so please furnish a temporary plate, this was on the books as legal. They would not. That was their mandate even though I had a letter from the judge and the local chief of police highlighting the clause.

The person across the counter at the DMV, the one with the neck tats, the plastered down pink hair, with the ring in her nose and the stud in her tongue told me "you gots to have all deze papers". The document she was referring to clearly said "Bring one of the following". She claimed it meant I had to bring all three.
It took me another two weeks to finally get my inspection, riding illegally, carrying yet another CYA letter of explanation from the police chief.

I went back to the DMV with an inspection and they wanted to know how I attained said inspection without plates. I pushed the letter the PC had written across the counter and told her "the chief of police said to show you this if there were any problems and he would be willing to pay a visit to help clear up any misunderstandings"
I finally go my plates...and she was pissed about doing it.

You can't fix stupid.

Stories similar are legion. I was a public sector employee and I can tell you tales that would singe your ears. DMV in all states seem to have at least one block of wood in each office and since they are civil service they will never be removed. Old bikes and cars just dont fit in to their computer system and since all they do is tick boxes things grind to a halt.

This is a tale of good fortune . After acquiring my Commando which had sat in a heated machine shop and not run or moved for more than 20 years I took it out for a test ride after getting it running and fitted with new rubber. Antique tag applied for and received through the mail as in NJ they are not issued at local agencies.
On a particular remote stretch of road through the woods the Smith’s speedometer said I was going xx mph or xxx mph - depending on which side of the arc the needle was bouncing to.
Ultimately a police officer discovered my activity and lit me up .
Pulled over and removed my hat while he strode towards me very unhappily. “ License and registration please “
“ Yes sir - I have to reach under the seat and release the side cover to get the registration and insurance card - is that ok ? “
“ Yes - slowly - hands in sight at all times “
Paper work retrieved and in the officers hands he eyed the registration and walked back and eyed the antique tag.
Stomping back with a beet red face he said :
“ ANTIQUE ? I DIDN’T KNOW ANTIQUES COULD DO XXX ! “
Not much for me to do but honestly and sheepishly admit to my lapse of judgment.
“ Yes sir - guilty . I had one of these when I was a very much younger man . I have been working on it for a year or so and just wanted to see what it would do . VERY stupid on my part - if I caught my kids doing what I have done I would kill them - “

The redness left his face and the scowl cracked a bit - I think I saw one corner of his lips inching towards a grin -

He shook his head as he handed me back my paperwork and made certain I knew this was my lucky day - walked back to his cruiser and pulled away . WHEW ! !

Interesting that they could wipe their files so completely.

I always keep the paperwork and keep a record of phone calls etc.

Insurance companies, tax dept, city councils, university records, telecom companies all get more serious when you put bits of paper under their noses.

That said some people really do invite trouble and the stupid behaviour I see the cops have to put up with on the very rare occasions I’m down town late at night I really don’t think I could put up with it without losing my cool.

Clearly a poor excuse for a policeman. Now with the speed cam you just get the notice in the mail weeks later and you are done right and proper and you cannot even remember where you were that day.
Remember: you are a criminal and have to pay.

....

JimC said:

Why are there 48 different registrations and 48 different driver’s licenses in the same country that has 48 interconnected states?

Click to expand...

I think it has something to do with states preserving the right to self govern. It's the Tenth Amendment to the constitution.

marshg246 said:

The same thing can happen in VA. They will delete the record, including the title when an old vehicle is not registered for a certain time (don't know the time limit). Happened to me. If you've lost the physical title, you're screwed. I had to get my congressman to intercede and force the DMV to replace my lost title. Even so, I had to re-pay the sales tax and titling fee even though the bike never left VA since new. In my case it was unregistered because it was in storage so at least I wasn't dealing with a cop on the side of the road.

Click to expand...

In NZ they have a method where your registration can be put on hold for up to 12 months. They send you a notification by email and paper when it’s due.

it’s useful if you don’t want to register through the winter so you don’t have to pay the ACC levy. Although this is tiny for 40 year old vehicles. ACC is our compulsory accident insurance levy that pays hospital plus 80% loss of earnings while you can’t work.

the only time registering was a big issue was when the bike had been off the road from 1982 to 1997 while family things were happening. Then I had to get a VIN and inspection. To be honest it was pretty painless. Went to the local AA inspection place and they did everything in 30 mins.

NZ has a compulsory warrent of fitness inspection ever six months but it all goes pretty easy and it means it’s easy for stolen numbers to be picked up.

Nah nah nah..... It has only to do with their right to fleece your wallet I believe, and it is proven to be true daily.

rvich said:

I think it has something to do with states preserving the right to self govern. It's the Tenth Amendment to the constitution.

Click to expand...

And just what does that get Joe Citizen?