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CHP conducting registration crackdown
By JENNIFER DENEVAN/News West
Published: Sunday, September 18, 2011 2:12 AM MDT
NEEDLES ? The California Highway Patrol wants to ensure residents and visitors are aware and are adhering to state laws regarding car registration. They are using a program called CHEATERS, or ?Californians Help Eliminate All The Evasive Registration Scofflaws? program.
Alex Diaz, registration violation coordinator for CHP, said the program began in 2004 but it?s going more full force recently. The goal is to ensure people are adhering to state laws but also to ensure the state is getting all the money it is supposed to receive. With the budget crisis, it is important that all the money that can be collected is, he added. In 2009 CHP reported recovering approximately $4 million from out-of-state license plate registration fees since the beginning of the program.
Non-compliance is considered a secondary offense. Patrolmen or members of the Department of Motor Vehicles must first complete some type of investigation prior to a citation, Sgt. Vergil McCallister said. This means if a person is stopped for some other violation and the officer comes across evidence of being non-compliant then an investigation is completed and a citation may be given. This also applies to when residents call in or file a complaint via the Internet.
The program encourages California residents to notify the highway patrol of non-compliant motorists, he said. As much as he and other patrolmen may know the area and are generally aware of who likely lives in the area because of Needles? small size, they can?t know everyone, he added.
Residents may call the CHP office or visit the website if they?ve spotted an out-of-state license plate of someone who is likely living in California. The following information should be included:
? State of plate
? License plate number
? Date and time observed
? Where it was observed
? Make, model and color of vehicle
? Any additional comments such as decals, plate frames or bumper stickers.
The process starts with the report, Diaz said. Then he or another officer will investigate the plate number. If it does appear the motorist is non-compliant a letter gets sent. If the motorist registers at that point then it?s completed, he continued; but if not it can mean a citation and a court date.
Diaz said he is willing to work with residents. Assuming a motorist responds to the letter within a couple of weeks and/or becomes compliant, the issue will likely be dropped. Otherwise the process continues.
Fines can be up to $1,000 for being non-compliant. In some instances, it can mean a hold on the driver?s license and in worst-case scenarios the vehicle can be seized or the Internal Revenue Service can be contacted for liens on vehicles, though that hasn?t happened in Needles, Diaz said.
Diaz said anyone moving into California needs to be aware they have 20 days from the time they take employment or become a resident of California to get their vehicle registered. This also includes drivers licenses.
The state loses millions of dollars every year to motorists not registering their vehicles correctly, Diaz said. Sometimes it?s because they are unaware of how long they have to register and sometimes it?s done on purpose. It is easy to want to keep vehicles registered in other states, especially Arizona, because of the proximity and the lower expense, he continued; but it?s not fair to residents who do register correctly. If motorists don?t correctly register but are still driving California highways and roads, they still receive all the same services as someone who is correctly registered and that isn?t right, he continued.
This rule applies to snowbirds and seasonal visitors, if they choose to make California their primary residence, McCallister said, such as getting a California drivers license and filing income taxes. As long as snowbirds maintain residence in their home state, they are exempt.
Diaz said he wants residents to also be aware that lent vehicles also need to be registered in California. He?s heard the excuse ?well it?s my mom?s car,? but again, if the vehicle is mostly used on California roadways, it needs to be registered in California.
Non-residents who work in California, need to get a sticker, Diaz said. They don?t have to register but they do need to get a sticker that is good for two years indicating they are commuters. It is important to remember the sticker is for commuting, not for driving for the business, he continued. Cost is $18 for a two-year period.
To report an out-of-state vehicle, visit www.chp.ca.gov or contact the Needles office at 760-326-2000.
By JENNIFER DENEVAN/News West
Published: Sunday, September 18, 2011 2:12 AM MDT
NEEDLES ? The California Highway Patrol wants to ensure residents and visitors are aware and are adhering to state laws regarding car registration. They are using a program called CHEATERS, or ?Californians Help Eliminate All The Evasive Registration Scofflaws? program.
Alex Diaz, registration violation coordinator for CHP, said the program began in 2004 but it?s going more full force recently. The goal is to ensure people are adhering to state laws but also to ensure the state is getting all the money it is supposed to receive. With the budget crisis, it is important that all the money that can be collected is, he added. In 2009 CHP reported recovering approximately $4 million from out-of-state license plate registration fees since the beginning of the program.
Non-compliance is considered a secondary offense. Patrolmen or members of the Department of Motor Vehicles must first complete some type of investigation prior to a citation, Sgt. Vergil McCallister said. This means if a person is stopped for some other violation and the officer comes across evidence of being non-compliant then an investigation is completed and a citation may be given. This also applies to when residents call in or file a complaint via the Internet.
The program encourages California residents to notify the highway patrol of non-compliant motorists, he said. As much as he and other patrolmen may know the area and are generally aware of who likely lives in the area because of Needles? small size, they can?t know everyone, he added.
Residents may call the CHP office or visit the website if they?ve spotted an out-of-state license plate of someone who is likely living in California. The following information should be included:
? State of plate
? License plate number
? Date and time observed
? Where it was observed
? Make, model and color of vehicle
? Any additional comments such as decals, plate frames or bumper stickers.
The process starts with the report, Diaz said. Then he or another officer will investigate the plate number. If it does appear the motorist is non-compliant a letter gets sent. If the motorist registers at that point then it?s completed, he continued; but if not it can mean a citation and a court date.
Diaz said he is willing to work with residents. Assuming a motorist responds to the letter within a couple of weeks and/or becomes compliant, the issue will likely be dropped. Otherwise the process continues.
Fines can be up to $1,000 for being non-compliant. In some instances, it can mean a hold on the driver?s license and in worst-case scenarios the vehicle can be seized or the Internal Revenue Service can be contacted for liens on vehicles, though that hasn?t happened in Needles, Diaz said.
Diaz said anyone moving into California needs to be aware they have 20 days from the time they take employment or become a resident of California to get their vehicle registered. This also includes drivers licenses.
The state loses millions of dollars every year to motorists not registering their vehicles correctly, Diaz said. Sometimes it?s because they are unaware of how long they have to register and sometimes it?s done on purpose. It is easy to want to keep vehicles registered in other states, especially Arizona, because of the proximity and the lower expense, he continued; but it?s not fair to residents who do register correctly. If motorists don?t correctly register but are still driving California highways and roads, they still receive all the same services as someone who is correctly registered and that isn?t right, he continued.
This rule applies to snowbirds and seasonal visitors, if they choose to make California their primary residence, McCallister said, such as getting a California drivers license and filing income taxes. As long as snowbirds maintain residence in their home state, they are exempt.
Diaz said he wants residents to also be aware that lent vehicles also need to be registered in California. He?s heard the excuse ?well it?s my mom?s car,? but again, if the vehicle is mostly used on California roadways, it needs to be registered in California.
Non-residents who work in California, need to get a sticker, Diaz said. They don?t have to register but they do need to get a sticker that is good for two years indicating they are commuters. It is important to remember the sticker is for commuting, not for driving for the business, he continued. Cost is $18 for a two-year period.
To report an out-of-state vehicle, visit www.chp.ca.gov or contact the Needles office at 760-326-2000.
