The weaponization of the DMV

[polara66hardtop]

I had a quite an experience in 2014 when I bought a 1971 Demon from a guy in San Fransisco.He said he had to sell it because the car had an exhaust cackle under the car according to DMV so he couldn't license it. and he had the title, but had four pink slips attached. so, apparently it had been sold several times before he got it, and he was the last pink slip.
Being from nebraska, I thought, what state would allow pink slip after pink slip to be sold, but He said as long as it was lnot relicensed, it was legal.
So I took all his copies to the dmv here in Nebraska. They looked at all of it, scratched their heads, called the California DMV, and then said it's all good!
So I sent the payment for the car thru my Daughter whom was attending Berkeley, caught a shipper that was coincidently heading east on I 80 that week, and two days later she arrived. It is a beautiful car, and with a new manifold and valve job, runs like a sewing machine.
The funniest part was when the truck showed up in Fort Calhoun, it was the last car of eight and on the bottom row with mainly lexus,mercedes, corvettes, heading to chicago. The driver was a moldavian, and asked in broken english:What is Demon?
I told him, and he said man, at every fuel stop people came out to look at the Demon, and not any of the other cars!
he asked ,how much? I told him, and he said Hell! That is less than the front clip of the lexus!
He then yelled as he left, go Mopars! and by the way, back then it cost $563 dollars to transport that car 1800 miles!

 

[saforwardlook]

I had a quite an experience in 2014 when I bought a 1971 Demon from a guy in San Fransisco.He said he had to sell it because the car had an exhaust cackle under the car according to DMV so he couldn't license it. and he had the title, but had four pink slips attached. so, apparently it had been sold several times before he got it, and he was the last pink slip.
Being from nebraska, I thought, what state would allow pink slip after pink slip to be sold, but He said as long as it was lnot relicensed, it was legal.
So I took all his copies to the dmv here in Nebraska. They looked at all of it, scratched their heads, called the California DMV, and then said it's all good!
So I sent the payment for the car thru my Daughter whom was attending Berkeley, caught a shipper that was coincidently heading east on I 80 that week, and two days later she arrived. It is a beautiful car, and with a new manifold and valve job, runs like a sewing machine.
The funniest part was when the truck showed up in Fort Calhoun, it was the last car of eight and on the bottom row with mainly lexus,mercedes, corvettes, heading to chicago. The driver was a moldavian, and asked in broken english:What is Demon?
I told him, and he said man, at every fuel stop people came out to look at the Demon, and not any of the other cars!
he asked ,how much? I told him, and he said Hell! That is less than the front clip of the lexus!
He then yelled as he left, go Mopars! and by the way, back then it cost $563 dollars to transport that car 1800 miles!

A lot of my cars still have their original pink slips from back in the day......................they are still just titles but about one quarter the size of current titles.

 

[SGT FURY]

FWIW a wrecked 23k 70 440+6,shaker,4.10 4 speed cuda l had in the early 80s.
It had the N95 code. If I remember right it had an extra steel tube that went back to gas tank?
Also a note no exhaust tips on such a performance car

 

[73Coupe]

Update - three years later. Still not registered yet, still in drydock....
Letter received from Stellantis in September. I took that, along with an identical OEM emissions sticker, the broadcast sheet, into my local DMV and they sent it all up to Sacramento.
Sacramento got back to me a month later and said that I now have to get the vehicle re-inspected, and now they are reneging on the title issue of the PO / Alberta. They also want $281 more. The good news is that the emissions sticker issue is resolved for now.
I had CHP come to my house in early November to verify the car (their regional office is right around the corner from me). I sent the paperwork back to Sacramento this week, so let's see what happens this time. If needed, I am still in contact with Wayne (the PO) and he knows of a method of getting a duplicate title from the province if necessary, that will just take up to 3 months.

 

[73Coupe]

Update - Just got another reply from the DMV. Now they are not satisfied with the US Customs forms and want an additional $778.
Every time it is something new. When I satisfy that requirement, then they think of something else.
Weaponization, I tell ya....
I am going to make an appointment and go down to the DMV this Friday to raise hell.

 

[CBODY67]

What do they claim the additional $778.00 is for? How did they determine that amount?

I'm not sure about "weaponization" per se, although it might certainly seem that way, but it could well be "people not knowing what they are doing" nor "understanding what they should be doing". At least that has seemed to be what the discoveries in TX have revealed. FWIW

A LOT of vehicle registration statues are usually found in the State's website, in the DMV area. From what I have seen.

Take care,
CBODY67

 

[73Coupe]

What do they claim the additional $778.00 is for? How did they determine that amount?

I'm not sure about "weaponization" per se, although it might certainly seem that way, but it could well be "people not knowing what they are doing" nor "understanding what they should be doing". At least that has seemed to be what the discoveries in TX have revealed. FWIW

A LOT of vehicle registration statues are usually found in the State's website, in the DMV area. From what I have seen.

Take care,
CBODY67

I went back in person last Friday and spent about an hour down there. By my luck, the manager on duty at the time caught ear of my case as I was explaining to the lady at window #1, and took it on himself. He first mentioned that "Sacramento is increasingly reluctant to register pre-emission cars in California" and went off about electric cars for a minute. But then agreed that my case was FUBAR and decided to help.

After about 30 minutes on the phone with the field assistance office and talking to multiple people layers deep down in the beurocracy, he determined that the $778 was a mistake.

It turned out the DMV also marked down my previous $281 payment as "unpaid" and thus charged me the $778 in penalties for that. However, they still cashed my check, and I had to download a PDF of said check from my bank and email it to the DMV manager to prove it.

His final analysis is that "somebody that didn't pay attention nor care" got assigned my paperwork when I sent it to Sacramento and carelessly rebuked it.

This time, he said, he requested that it go directly to a supervisor for processing.

Next time, hopefully I get a manilla envelope in the mail (with a "prison industries" stamp), and not a white envelope with returned/rebuked paperwork.

 

[3175375]

I went back in person last Friday and spent about an hour down there. By my luck, the manager on duty at the time caught ear of my case as I was explaining to the lady at window #1, and took it on himself. He first mentioned that "Sacramento is increasingly reluctant to register pre-emission cars in California" and went off about electric cars for a minute. But then agreed that my case was FUBAR and decided to help.

After about 30 minutes on the phone with the field assistance office and talking to multiple people layers deep down in the beurocracy, he determined that the $778 was a mistake.

It turned out the DMV also marked down my previous $281 payment as "unpaid" and thus charged me the $778 in penalties for that. However, they still cashed my check, and I had to download a PDF of said check from my bank and email it to the DMV manager to prove it.

His final analysis is that "somebody that didn't pay attention nor care" got assigned my paperwork when I sent it to Sacramento and carelessly rebuked it.

This time, he said, he requested that it go directly to a supervisor for processing.

Next time, hopefully I get a manilla envelope in the mail (with a "prison industries" stamp), and not a white envelope with returned/rebuked paperwork.

Unbelievable! You can’t make this $hit up! And they’re paid for this work!

I’m so blessed to have escaped nearly 8 years ago and I absolutely don’t regret it!

 

[saforwardlook]

Unbelievable! You can’t make this $hit up! And they’re paid for this work!

I’m so blessed to have escaped nearly 8 years ago and I absolutely don’t regret it!

I went back in person last Friday and spent about an hour down there. By my luck, the manager on duty at the time caught ear of my case as I was explaining to the lady at window #1, and took it on himself. He first mentioned that "Sacramento is increasingly reluctant to register pre-emission cars in California" and went off about electric cars for a minute. But then agreed that my case was FUBAR and decided to help.

After about 30 minutes on the phone with the field assistance office and talking to multiple people layers deep down in the beurocracy, he determined that the $778 was a mistake.

It turned out the DMV also marked down my previous $281 payment as "unpaid" and thus charged me the $778 in penalties for that. However, they still cashed my check, and I had to download a PDF of said check from my bank and email it to the DMV manager to prove it.

His final analysis is that "somebody that didn't pay attention nor care" got assigned my paperwork when I sent it to Sacramento and carelessly rebuked it.

This time, he said, he requested that it go directly to a supervisor for processing.

Next time, hopefully I get a manilla envelope in the mail (with a "prison industries" stamp), and not a white envelope with returned/rebuked paperwork.

A few years ago, I also had a very frustrating time at my local California DMV office, and I asked to speak with the office manager. In a matter of minutes, she had my paperwork back on track and it was very clear she took pride in trying to ensure I had a really good experience. Given your prolonged and drawn-out nonsense, and your good results with your DMV office manager, it seems like we should just go there as soon as things get off the track.

 

[3175375]

A few years ago, I also had a very frustrating time at my local California DMV office, and I asked to speak with the office manager. In a matter of minutes, she had my paperwork back on track and it was very clear she took pride in trying to ensure I had a really good experience. Given your prolonged and drawn-out nonsense, and your good results with your DMV office manager, it seems like we should just go there as soon as things get off the track.

One shouldn’t have to go to the manager to start. The place is a train wreck.

 

[Samplingman]

Wow, this is crazy, 3 years and waiting. In that time you could have established a second residence in another state and gotten the car titled and on the road, lol. Might have even been cheaper. Regarding PA and the titling agencies and inspection regs, I opted not to move there in '05 and stay in Jersey.

Quick story about the legendary NJ DMV. A few years back I bought an '02 Corolla for $1500. On the back of the title I had to put in the amount paid so they can charge taxes. Being old and of poor sight, I didn't see the printed dollar sign so naturally I hand wrote it next to the 1500 ($1500, NOT the illiterate millennial way of 1500$). Anyway, the clerk took the paper work and disapeard for a bit. Finally, she came back and said I needed to apply for a new title. Confused, I asked why and she said that it looked like I was masking $15,000 with my hand written dollar sign and pointed to the minature printed dollar sign that I didn't see. I then produced the hand written receipt from the seller with signatures, but she said that wasn't good enough. I asked for a superviser. They huddled. They disapeard again for 15 minutes. Then she came back. "I just spoke with the Supervisor's 'supervisor'. You can apply for a new document, and it will take a few months, or pay a $25 dollar altered doc fee and be on your way". I handed her $25 cash, said "enjoy your lunch wink wink" took the plates and new regestration and walked out. No title no problem, and NO inspection for cars made before 1998. Gotta love NJ DMV!