On Mon, 14 Apr 1997, Ken Streeter wrote:
> fred thomas wrote:
>
> > Ed, ... Take your own tags from home ...
>
> Wait! Hold the farm! Do NOT pass go, do not collect
> $200, go directly to jail.
>
> Do NOT switch tags from one car to another. This is
> a VERY BAD idea. Switching tags from one vehicle to
> another is a *criminal* offense, not just a civil
> violation. Been there, done that, didn't get a
> T-shirt.
>
> If you want the whole story, read on...
[which I did, but then deleted, since the rest of you must have read it as
well!]
There are circumstances where "taking your own tags from home" might be
permissible. Under certain clauses of "Historical" registrations of motor
vehicles in New York State, one may use such "Historical" license plates
for purposes of test driving and/or transporting vehicles that would also
qualify for such plates. I quote from New York State's Vehicle & Traffic
Code:
§ 401. Registration of motor vehicles; fees; renewals...
7. Registration fees for auto trucks, tractors, buses, taxicabs,
livery and certain other motor vehicles...
G. Schedule for historical motor vehicles. For each motor vehicle
which is owned and operated as an exhibition piece or collectors item,
and is used for participation in club activities, exhibit, tours,
parades, occasional transportation and similar uses, but not used for
general daily transportation, an annual fee of twenty-three dollars.
For purposes of this paragraph, a historical motor vehicle shall mean
any vehicle manufactured more than twenty-five years prior to the
current calendar year, and any other model, year and type vehicle
which has unique characteristics and which is determined by the
commissioner to be of historical, classic or exhibition value.
Registration plates for such vehicles shall be of a type and design
approved by the commissioner, but shall be of a distinctive nature.
Except that, with the approval of the commissioner, an owner of any
such vehicle may utilize registration plates issued in the year
corresponding to the model year date in which the vehicle was
manufactured, if the registration plate is legible and serviceable,
and of this state, as determined by the department.
[NOTE PARTICULARLY THIS PART:]
Such plates shall
be used only for the operation of the motor vehicle listed on the
registration application and on other motor vehicles which would
qualify for registration under this schedule owned by persons other
than the registrant for the purpose of test driving by the registrant
or his agent in anticipation of possible purchase. No such
registration will be issued unless evidence of financial security, in
a form prescribed by the commissioner, is submitted which provides
coverage for the motor vehicle listed on the registration application
and for non-owned motor vehicles being operated with such plates.
======================================================================
Of course, one doing this with a New York historical registration might
find him or herself in a bit of a "gray" area legally while trying to
explain how the "test drive" has taken him/her from Carlisle, PA, to (for
example) Albany, NY. However, it does provide one with a possibility. And
NO, I don't advocate this, and NO, I don't know if similar laws apply for
other states' "historical" or "collector" tags and insurance requirements.
The above is strictly FYI. YMMV, AM & FM, etc. ;-)
--Andy
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* 10/Herald/Vitesse (Sports 6) Consultant *
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