CA DMV Issued My Plate In 2 Weeks!

[CroMagnum]

I haven't even finished building my bike yet (the paint it still drying). So when I mailed my REG230 form in on Sept. 6th, I figured I had some time to get it done. Apparently not, because this is what I received in the mail 2 weeks to the day on September 20th:

A couple of notes -

For the make I said "Diamondback" and for V.I.N. I merely used the bike's serial number. The discussions I've seen about how you have to have an official DOT-assigned 17 digit VIN is just plain bunk. Use the bike's serial. It works just fine. At least in CA.

I used some number I found on the engine, which for all I know is a part number or a date code. In the future I'll probably just put down the bike serial again.

Even though I typed the form, they misspelled my last name. It's close enough. I sincerely doubt that DMV employees are actually displaced NASA personnel.

I mistakenly sent in $18 instead of $19, and they still issued the plate.

One thing I wonder about is payment. I've read it takes 6-8 weeks, but mine was issued in 2 weeks total turn around. I used a Postal Money Order instead of a personal check. I wonder if some of the delay is because the DMV sits on the application for a few weeks to make sure the check clears?

The funny thing now is I'm upside-down compared to most of you who ride your MB around without registration while waiting for the DMV to take their sweet time. But now I've got the plate but no bike!

I gotta put that thing together and do some ridin'!

 

[MotorBicycleRacing]

I paid for my plate with a $19 Postal Money Order too and it took about 3 weeks to get it.

From my issue date of 5/18/2011 about 600 plates have been sent out going by your plate number.
Seeing that the plates are used for Mopeds too it's hard to know how many motorized bicycles are getting plates.

Definitely use the stamped number from your bike because how else could you prove that the bike is yours if stolen?

 

[ZnsaneRyder]

Awesome!!!!

I was wondering if that would work!

Now I live in Florida, but I'm going to try it like that and see what happens.

Register as a Moped, cool!i

Maybe if I did what you did, I would still have my bike today.

 

[darwin]

I wonder if those poor NYers had a CA plate on their bikes if NY would have to recognize it as a legal vehicle to be on the road with every state having to honor anothers statutes........dunno if thats the right terminology.

 

[CroMagnum]

I wonder if those poor NYers had a CA plate on their bikes if NY would have to recognize it as a legal vehicle to be on the road with every state having to honor anothers statutes........dunno if thats the right terminology.

I also wondered about that - what about the "full faith and credit" clause? States are obligated to honor legal procedures from other states like driver's licenses, vehicle registrations, marriages, divorces, business contracts, etc. It even applies to vehicles like my trailer that, just like my MB, only required a one-time payment for a non-expiring license plate. I can hitch it up and tow it to Arizona, NY, or any other state and the police are powerless to do anything about it.


You could handle it two ways:

1. Have someone else register their MB in a different state and ride it in NY. Since it has a legal license plate and registration, they can't legally prohibit it from operating on the open roads. --Or --

2. Register the MB in CA under their own name. You have a valid registration, so it's street legal.

I believe every state has a law that says if you bring a vehicle in from out-of-state you have X-number of days (30, 60, 90) to register it in your home state. So you wait until you get a ticket, and take it into the DMV for a NY plate. Make them tell you they refuse to register it (get it on cellphone cam if you can), go to court and tell the judge that the state won't issue a plate.

This is where they hit a legal snag. On one hand, how can they legally prohibit a properly licensed vehicle from another from operating in NY? And how can they give out traffic tickets for failing to register a vehicle in NY that the state refuses to register?

One piece of advice - throughout this ordeal, try not to come across like a DUI-convicted trailer park crank in the papers like the Florida crew.

 

[KillerMaB]

I believe every state has a law that says if you bring a vehicle in from out-of-state you have X-number of days (30, 60, 90) to register it in your home state. So you wait until you get a ticket, and take it into the DMV for a NY plate. Make them tell you they refuse to register it (get it on cellphone cam if you can), go to court and tell the judge that the state won't issue a plate.
OR get it printed on letterhead

This is where they hit a legal snag. On one hand, how can they legally prohibit a properly licensed vehicle from another from operating in NY? And how can they give out traffic tickets for failing to register a vehicle in NY that the state refuses to register?
They can't make the ticket stick, but afterwards, you're prolly out of luck.

One piece of advice - throughout this ordeal, try not to come across like a DUI-convicted trailer park crank in the papers like the Florida crew.

Or better yet, try not to come across as a "fast-talking, unfriendly, shallow, flaky, struggling actor, yuppy type."

 

[ZnsaneRyder]

Wow, this thread just started, now he's banned.........

Anyway, folks, lets keep it going to see what we can do to get Valid Tags BEFORE putting the bike on the road!

 

[Big Red]

Ca. Reg.

Thanks CM, This is exactly what I was looking for. I wanted to go in to DMV armed to the teeth and you just made that possible. Or do you think it's better to just mail it in so there's no one to argue with at all.
Thanks again,
Big Red.

 

[MotorBicycleRacing]

Thanks CM, This is exactly what I was looking for. I wanted to go in to DMV armed to the teeth and you just made that possible. Or do you think it's better to just mail it in so there's no one to argue with at all.
Thanks again,
Big Red.

Do not go to the DMV unless you like wasting your time.
I don't think that the branches even have plates to give you.

Mail the form and $19 and you will have your plate in 2 to 3 weeks
mailed to you from Sacramento.

My plate took 3 weeks.

 

[Big Red]

Ca. Reg.

Do not go to the DMV unless you like wasting your time.
I don't think that the branches even have plates to give you.

Mail the form and $19 and you will have your plate in 2 to 3 weeks
mailed to you from Sacramento.

My plate took 3 weeks.

Thanks, That sounds like a much better idea. Wouldn't want to confuse some poor DMV worker. Most of the time I get the one that has an accent that I can't understand anyway. Just my kind of bad luck I guess.
Big Red.