Remember to Renew Your License Plate

Spy Radio
Spy Radio, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Jan 8, 2011 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."
I was sitting at a red light when a police car pulled up behind me. A few minutes later I was being pulled over. I had no idea what I did wrong. When the officer approached my vehicle he informed me "that my plates had been expired for nearly four months". As the officer ran my information I sat there thinking "how did I forget to renew my license plate?" A few seconds later it came to me. The Secretary of State never sent me a reminder in the mail. The officer returned and sent me on my way without a ticket.

I was glad I did not get a ticket, but felt cheated by the Secretary of State for not receiving a reminder in the mail. The next day I made my way to the Secretary of State. When my number was called I made my way to the counter.

I informed the woman behind the desk "that I needed to renew my registration".

She informed me "that I would have to pay a late fee".

I tried to argue my case "stating that I never received a reminder in the mail".

She would have none of that. She asked "if the date listed on my registration was my birthday?".

I replied "yes".

She said "if that is your birthday it is your responsibility to come in and renew your registration regardless of whether or not you received a reminder in the mail".

There was no sense in fighting a losing battle so I paid the late fee even though I was not very happy about it. I thought it was unfair that I was one of the unfortunate ones who never received a reminder in the mail.

Not getting a reminder in the mail was the reason I forgot to renew my plates. It was something I never needed to remember. A month or so before my birthday I could always count on a reminder coming in the mail. Now I don't care if a reminder ever comes again because I will never forget this experience.

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  • Donald Rothra1/11/2011

    WHAT AN ARTICLE!!!! I started reading and suddenly remembered that I got a reminder to register my truck, on line, before the end of January. Thank you for the reminder.

  • Marie Lowe1/10/2011

    I wish I could figure out what is up with the lack of comment boxes. Thanks for browsing my stuff.
    Lots of different topics as I'm sure you saw:)

  • Spy Radio1/10/2011

    Hey Monica, I did not know that it was a criminal offense to drive with an expired driver's license.

  • Nancy P. Goodman, in Tennessee1/9/2011

    In Tennessee, it goes by when you originally registered the vehicle. So mine was in July not at my birthday. But thanks for the reminder, good work!

  • Lee Hansen1/9/2011

    Spy Radio thanks for the reminder. I guess your not getting notification goes under budget cuts too :)

  • Monica Lehua1/9/2011

    You're lucky you didn't get a ticket. In Florida, they give everyone a ticket. Did you know it's a criminal offense if you drive with an expired driver's license?! I think the entire country's license dept decided to make extra money by not telling people that they were no longer going to send out reminders, which saved them money, and then they would make more money from all the late fees that everyone would incur. Then when you go to their office they pull the "small print" it's your responsibility. Great reminder thanks!

  • David A. Reinstein, LCSW1/9/2011

    Where I live, whether or not the renewal dates coincide with one's birth date, the responsibility or renewing (registration, driver's licenses, etc) is on the citizen. The reminder notices are regarded as 'courtesies' and not receiving one is not accepted as an excuse for not doing it,

  • leroy coffie1/8/2011

    I had the same thing happen to me, I got a fine, the policeman was rude, scared my children and made them cry

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