Does every state's DMV fleece you?

[graylocks]

Michael wrote:
It looks like he should have gotten a DS-2040. And now that you have taken care of it, he should get a DS-1020 or maybe a DS-1119.

we got no forms. when we left DDS today all we got was a receipt for having paid and verbal reassurance that his license was fully reinstated. hmmm. maybe we should have asked for a form or something.s

[Michael]

I work at a state college in Georgia and I'm very aware that many of the "official rules" aren't always followed at our institution. It doesn't surprise me that you didn't get the official notification.

I wonder if that could be the basis of an appeal of any penalties...

[hal]

What a mess!!

Thank god calif has really embraced technology. Before the internet, EVERYONE had to do all biz at the DMV - all were equal under the rules of the DMV. That's where you got to see a REAL cross section of the area you lived in.

Last time I had to go into the DMV (I was never sent registration renewal stuff) I went online to make an appt. Arrived to find an automated check-in machine. I signed in, got a number and took a seat. I was called in about 5 minutes. Took 5 min to take care of biz and I was gone.

In the old days that would have taken two hours easily...

DP wrote:
I get my tabs online in MI. It's the Secretary of State's office-no DMV. But my wife got a new vehicle and we were fixing up her old car and got a temporary plate for it. But, guess what? I can't get a temporary plate online! So I have to go mingle with the great unwashed which I haven't done in years. I go in but now there is no Take-A-Number machine anymore and now, one has to stand in line to meet with an agent (one!) who asks why you're there and then gives you a number! Well, do you get a specific agent now depending on your request? Nope. So I asked, doesn't every agent need to know everything that needs to be dealt with here? Yes. Then why the hell... And, there are frail people who need to sit while waiting with no chairs except in the waiting area. Also, the line was out the door by the time I got done and it took me just under an hour!
To top it off, the TV's are playing the SecState channel with "quotes" by "real people" saying things like "Love the new SoS offices! Was in and out in three minutes!" Where were they-the Isle Royale office? Or was it the postman just dropping off mail?
I sent them a disgruntled email. Bet that won't show up on the TV...

[RAMd®d]

In CA, a miscreant is notified when their CDL is suspended or revoked, whether it was done in person or not. Sometimes something slips through the cracks.

A seatbelt violation is a mover in CA. And driving with your privilege suspended or revoked is a misdemeanor, not an infraction.

And I see no problem in suspending a license because fines are not paid, regardless of how they were incurred. This is almost always done in court, and if one misses court dates, they're digging themselves a hole. If one misses their court date in CA, a warrant is usually issued, and the bail escalates with time.

I agree a notice of suspension should be sent and I disagree with the forum collective that not doing so is a conspiracy to raise revenue.

Our DMV is fairly progressive as far as conducting a lot of business online, and given that they're generally understaffed, I can see how a notice might not get sent out. I'd check to see if your DMV is supposed to send notices of suspension, or if it's not their policy.

[GuyGene]

Tax. They're going to get us for sure. It's like a form of tax, I think. At least I think tolls are. Course, you gotta wear ye seat belt, etc. we have to obey SOME laws that get passed. Some, mind you. Illegal aliens?

[Speedy]

Wailer wrote:
If your son signed for receipt of the violation, that usually should be good enough for them to justify not notifying you further. I'm not defending them, but what are they supposed to do if an adult signed that they agreed to appear in court or pay a violation? They shouldn't have to send further notification in the mail or call you or come to your door.

For parking tickets, they usually give you the "courtesy" of mailing you notice because they have no way of proving that you received your parking violation.

This ^

[DRR]

My guess, is that there's simple economics in play.

$0.25 in postal, paper, administrative costs to maintain a list of those who haven't paid, and give them another chance to pay. Multiply that by what's probably tens of thousands of people a year for a state.

Now consider how many people would get that notice and say "oh i forgot to pay! And I forgot to go to court!" versus the people who say "fvck it."

I'd say most are in the latter category, especially when you consider they ignored the original citation and court date to begin with. 99% of people are not going to ignore a citation and a court date, only to pay up at a later date. If they ignored it once they'll ignore it again.

So why should the state go to the time and cost to remind people who aren't going to pay, that they have to pay.

[DRR]

Also...

it just seems like they want the fines to grow and for penalties to set in. i mentioned it to a friend and she said the same thing happened to her husband when he got a ticket he ignored in north carolina. he wound up having to drive back to north carolina to deal with it. last year my son was ticketed for not having his license on his person. we couldn't pay the fine until it posted on the city's website. we checked for 3 weeks until it finally posted. even then it seemed like they delayed things in the hopes that eventually you'd forget about it and wind up paying more.

You do realize that the DMV is operated by your state's Department of Revenue, right?