switched license plates?

Question

does anyone know how serious of a crime it is to drive around in a unregisted car with registered plates that dont belong to the car, i already know that theres the no insurance fine, no registration fine, but im looking for the 'switched plates' fine, after doing a extensive research ive still come up with nothing. and i also live in NY

Answer 1

Failure to register: $40-300 and up to 15 days in jail.
False tags: $25-200
Probable license suspension and revocation, I figure if you're doing this stuff you don't care enough to give me props for looking this up so I'm stopping now.

§ 401 of the New York vehicle and traffic law states in paragraph 1a:

"No motor vehicle shall be operated or driven upon the public highways of this state without first being registered in accordance with the provisions of this article, except as otherwise expressly provided in this chapter."
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The fine for a violation is in paragraph 18:

Not less than $75 or more than $300, or a maximum of 15 days or both (if the violation was failure to renew within 60 days, fine is not less than $40).
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Oh but wait, there's more. You also affixed wrong tags!
§ 402 of the New York vehicle and traffic law states in paragraph 4:

"No person shall operate or drive a motor vehicle upon the public highways of this state having displayed thereon number plates not proper for such vehicle under the provisions of this chapter and, upon a conviction for this offense, the number plates shall be surrendered to the court for delivery to the commissioner. The failure to produce the certificate of registration or registration renewal stub of a vehicle shall be presumptive evidence of displaying number plates not proper for the vehicle. Every annual number plate issued shall remain the property of the state until the correct registration fee is paid. Every number plate of a permanent nature for use with a removable date tag which shall be issued shall remain the property of the state unless and until the commissioner finds that the state no longer has use for it. Number plates belonging to the state shall be under the control of the commissioner."

The fine for a violation is in paragraph 8:
Not less than $25, not more than $200.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Pretty serious, at least in the states where I'm aware of the laws regarding such things. (That would include CA. OK, and TX)

Think about for a minute, you're driving your ford but you put your wife's plate on it since it was current, and yours was not. Law enforcement happens to run your plate number for any reason, and it comes back to a 2005 Honda Excel, but they are behind a Ford Taurus. What is going to happen? If fact, it happens even with the right plate but the wrong decal. Your decal runs out, but you have the good one for your truck that says "07" so you slap it on. Your plate gets run and comes back expired 12/06 but the sticker says 07, again, what's going to happen?

I often get cars in impound with holds on them for "Taxes due the state" that can't be released until the owner shows up with new plates. It can be just a moving violation, but in extreme cases where it was done to defraud someone it can escalate up to a felony.

Answer 4

It likely not under switched plates, it is probably more along the lines of fraud. Switching plates is very serious and you can go to jail for it, using tabs that belong to another car is the same fraudulant act.

Answer 5

The absolutely free reverse vin check sites generally provide fake information. To get real information, money will have to be paid. The free searches provide fake information so they can get your email address to send spam.

Stay away from shady reverse vin check sites, most likely you won't get any information after you make the payment. Not to mention you won't get a report and you won't get an answer if you try to call for a refund. Stick with a reputable reverse vin check site like http://www.reversevincheck.net that has been around since 1995.

Answer 6

The cops don't see it as "switched plates", they see it as "stolen plates". Also if the car is not registered and uninsured, the car can be seized and in some states will be considered stolen property, which is a felony.

Answer 7

It is considered fraud and a major violation. It is called something like "displaying suspended number plates" and you can lose your license for doing this too! Not worth it!

Answer 8

Why don't just do the right thing and get the car registered, this sounds like you can get arrested and taken in, not just fined.

Answer 9

Its about as bad as stealing a car so not only fines up the butt ...but jail time too i would think twice about doing that ...

Answer 10

Sounds like fraud, doesn't it? When the cops run the plates, both of you are going to be surprised