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DMV difficulties: VIN and Plate mismatch

unichi said:
Sorry, I forgot to mention the paperwork I have. I do not have a pink slip, or a title, but I do have a bill of sale from the last owner (REG 135), an application for transfer of title with duplicate title (REG 227), and a statement of facts saying I don't have any contact info for the last registered owner (REG 256).

Does anyone know what will happen to me if the bike does turn out to be stolen?
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If you know it's stolen and you try to cover it up and part it out, bad things.

If you find out it's stolen, you lose the bike and then you get to have fun getting your money back from the fink who sold it to you.

This sort of thing is why you shouldn't buy bikes that don't come with titles. And yeah yeah lots of track bikes don't have titles blah blah, let someone else have the fun of figuring that out.
 
planegray said:
also

I'm pretty sure that having the wrong plate on a vehicle is a felony :wow
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I seriously doubt a prosecutor is going to string up some guy for unknowingly buying a stolen bike with the wrong plate.

Now buying a stolen bike, realizing it's stolen, and then trying to cover it up, you can be damn sure that's a felony and will get charged.
 
:Popcorn....not looking like a happy ending :(
 
KazMan said:
:Popcorn....not looking like a happy ending :(
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I'm going to keep my fingers crossed and call the CHP to see if I can get some info over the phone. I'll keep this thread updated with what happens and how I solve any problems/get the bike taken away.
 
unichi said:
I'm going to keep my fingers crossed and call the CHP to see if I can get some info over the phone. I'll keep this thread updated with what happens and how I solve any problems/get the bike taken away.
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Watch out for your cornhole, bud.

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You will not have trouble unless you bought the bike knowing it was stolen. If you gave the VIN number to the DMV and they let you leave without the CHP showing up, that most likely means that the bike is not reported stolen. It is not a felony to have the wrong plate on the bike, stupid people do that with their cars all the time. Most likely the last guy wanted to ride the thing on the road without registering it and put another plate on it...stupid people do that too. Good luck:cool
 
unichi said:
I'm going to keep my fingers crossed and call the CHP to see if I can get some info over the phone. I'll keep this thread updated with what happens and how I solve any problems/get the bike taken away.
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Crossing my fingers for you unichi :)
 
I don't believe CHP cares about smog equipment when they inspect. They're looking for VIN, EIN, lights/reflectors, maybe mileage.
 
Junkie said:
I don't believe CHP cares about smog equipment when they inspect. They're looking for VIN, EIN, lights/reflectors, maybe mileage.
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I second that. I've gone through 2 CHP inspections. Both times it was like these Explorer-type kids not in CHP uniforms crawling all over the bikes looking for frame and engine numbers. They said nothing about lights, smog equipment or anything else. The DMV may want a brake-and-light certificate like they do with salvage-title bikes, but I don't know.

If the bike is out of the system, just say it's been in your barn for 20 years and you'd like to re-register it, please. Go in 20 minutes before the DMV closes with the CHP inspection papers and your checkbook. You'll walk out with a plate. A real one.
 
Gabe said:
I second that. I've gone through 2 CHP inspections. Both times it was like these Explorer-type kids not in CHP uniforms crawling all over the bikes looking for frame and engine numbers. They said nothing about lights, smog equipment or anything else. The DMV may want a brake-and-light certificate like they do with salvage-title bikes, but I don't know.

If the bike is out of the system, just say it's been in your barn for 20 years and you'd like to re-register it, please. Go in 20 minutes before the DMV closes with the CHP inspection papers and your checkbook. You'll walk out with a plate. A real one.
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I've been through a couple of these things. One time the guy came out with us to have us start the bike and make sure the signals and lights worked.

The last time a couple of guys asked if they could climb on my truck and I said, "OK." I looked outside a few minutes later and they were all over the truck and the bike. I walked outside and they said, "We'll come get you when we're done. Go back inside." So I went back inside. After an eternity a guy came in and said everything checked out. They found more VINs than I knew could be on a bike and checked the lights, tires, etc. We brought new tires that were not yet on the bike and they wanted to see receipts for them. They also wanted to know if anything was not original to the bike.
I took this information to the DMV with my original (and correct) 1978 plate and was still issued a new plate because "The computer won't take your old plate / It doesn't comply with our classic plate laws / There is no month on that plate." They tried to take my old plate away since I was nice enough to go out to the bike and bring it in. I said, "So I bring my plate to you and you take it?" The lady said, "Yup," and took the plate. I said, "Is there any way we can pretend I never brought the plate in? She looked around and handed it back.
 
sephy said:
I've been through a couple of these things. One time the guy came out with us to have us start the bike and make sure the signals and lights worked.

The last time a couple of guys asked if they could climb on my truck and I said, "OK." I looked outside a few minutes later and they were all over the truck and the bike. I walked outside and they said, "We'll come get you when we're done. Go back inside." So I went back inside. After an eternity a guy came in and said everything checked out. They found more VINs than I knew could be on a bike and checked the lights, tires, etc. We brought new tires that were not yet on the bike and they wanted to see receipts for them. They also wanted to know if anything was not original to the bike.
I took this information to the DMV with my original (and correct) 1978 plate and was still issued a new plate because "The computer won't take your old plate / It doesn't comply with our classic plate laws / There is no month on that plate." They tried to take my old plate away since I was nice enough to go out to the bike and bring it in. I said, "So I bring my plate to you and you take it?" The lady said, "Yup," and took the plate. I said, "Is there any way we can pretend I never brought the plate in? She looked around and handed it back.
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What is the upside in bringing in a bike with an old expired plate on it?

All they would do is give you a sticker for it, which you have to put on yourself. The old registration or their computer would have your old plate number, so assuming you wanted to keep the old plate for some reason, why leave it on the bike when you take it in?
 
unichi said:
I'm going to keep my fingers crossed and call the CHP to see if I can get some info over the phone. I'll keep this thread updated with what happens and how I solve any problems/get the bike taken away.
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So have you found out anything? The cold-plate swap makes me strongly suspect it's stolen. I hope I'm wrong, cuz that shit sucks.

Dave
 
Sane_Man said:
What is the upside in bringing in a bike with an old expired plate on it?

All they would do is give you a sticker for it, which you have to put on yourself. The old registration or their computer would have your old plate number, so assuming you wanted to keep the old plate for some reason, why leave it on the bike when you take it in?
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The old registration did have the old plate number, but the DMV would not let me keep the plate because it didn't follow their new guidelines for keeping classic plates (actually they tried repeatedly but the computer would not take the 6 digit number). I don't really see a downside in putting a sticker on something myself... they make you put a sticker on brand new plates. I just like bikes with original plates - my other old bikes have them and I think that's cool. I have a new plate on the Chappy now but kept the old one anyway.

If you're wondering why I brought it to the DMV it's because I went there right after CHP inspection with the bike still in my truck. When the woman asked if I had the plate and could bring it in I couldn't lie to her.
 
Crjunkee said:
I dont know if this works on bikes, but check out this web site
https://www.nicb.org/theft_and_fraud_awareness/vincheck/vincheck
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Thanks for that link, the VIN did not show up as stolen or as a total loss. I wonder if that just means it isn't in their system at all.

I called the CHP and asked if they could check the VIN to make sure it is clean. They said they couldn't do it over the phone. I guess it is time to cobble an intake together, make an appointment at the CHP and get the bike over there.

Are there any options for temporary registration to drive a motor vehicle to a CHP inspection or is it trailer time?
 
unichi said:
Thanks for that link, the VIN did not show up as stolen or as a total loss. I wonder if that just means it isn't in their system at all.

I called the CHP and asked if they could check the VIN to make sure it is clean. They said they couldn't do it over the phone. I guess it is time to cobble an intake together, make an appointment at the CHP and get the bike over there.

Are there any options for temporary registration to drive a motor vehicle to a CHP inspection or is it trailer time?
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DMV can give you a temporary moving permit so long as all you lack is the CHP inspection (meaning you paid your fees and everything went into their computer). I'd trailer it there regardless.
 
sephy said:
DMV can give you a temporary moving permit so long as all you lack is the CHP inspection (meaning you paid your fees and everything went into their computer). I'd trailer it there regardless.
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At least that way you'll have a ride home. :teeth
 
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