A WARNING when taking a car into a shop

ahunt01 · 11-28-03, 07:45

My car has been in the body shop for about two weeks getting repaired from tree damage and getting repainted. Of course I took everything out of the car, but I forgot one important thing... my liscense plate. Yes boys and girls, it turned out to be a mistake.
On my way home I got pulled over and ticketed by a police officer for having expired registration. I thought it was odd that it was expired, but I was nervous and pretty much said "yes officer" and figured I'd think it out at home. I didn't have my proof of insurance with me, as I forgot to bring it when I picked up the car, but when I got home I looked at it. Turns out that my registration is current, and that my tag mysteriously has the 2004 sticker peeled off. I filed a theft report, and the officer told me that stealing that little sticker is common. He said that most crooks just take clippers and snip off the metal part on the plate and peel the sticker off later at home, but when you leave a car somewhere for an extended period of time (i.e. a shop) that some shops carefully peel the sticker off and you're none the wiser until you get pulled over.

Well I just wanted to share the experience with everyone. I had no clue that this sort of theft occurs before this happened, so I hope that everyone keeps this in mind when you bring your cars to an unknown shop for a long period of time.

Jimmy Buffit · 11-29-03, 05:10

I think the shop has some liability here!
Certainly not a professional image for them!

Jim

Lost Pup · 11-29-03, 05:29

That problem is common here in Phila, they would just cut off the corner of the plate to get the sticker. The state implemented a trial program just for Philly, a yellow paper sticker that is to be placed in the back window.
The problem is they forgot to take rear wire type defrosters into account. The sticker has to adhesive strips one on top and bottom. All over the city people have taped the stickers back on to the window if they can, looks terrible. They fade and get all wrinkled up.

The Police can ticket you for not having it in the window.
One a good note they have stated the program has reduced the theft of the stickers.

ahunt01 · 11-29-03, 06:23

Something like that sounds like a good idea. Well jimamary I can't prove that the body shop stole it. But I mean the car was inside their shop for 2 weeks, and sat in their parking lot for 2 days, the odds aren't in favor of some punk walking the streets lol. And it was stolen so neatly that I'd imagine only the body shop would have had the time to peel it off like that.

Greg · 11-29-03, 07:45

I just got my liscense plate yanked when my car was in the shop yesterday, I hate thieves!!!

ahunt01 · 11-29-03, 07:47

Ouch that sucks. Well atleast your lucky just like I am in one aspect, they didn't steal the car.

blkZ28Conv · 11-29-03, 07:57

Got my plate stolen in Boston ( at the time in Massachusetts non-commerial vehicles only had 1 rear plate). I drove around for who knows how long without it (it was winter) until one day my sister noted that I had no plate. Like ahunt01 I didn't know this type of activity existed. Now I know.

ahunt01 · 11-29-03, 08:05

One tip I can offer you all is to have a plate cover. I have two black tinted covers over my plate all the time. It makes the plate look dark greyish so it doesn't contrast so much with my black car, and the police don't mind it. I think that has saved me alot, since it's a pain in the rear to get both of them off and get to the plate. On the downside, it kept the 2004 sticker well preserved, so it was a snap to peel it off when it was in the shop.

Bill D · 11-29-03, 08:09

I have plate covers too but didn't think about how they can be a deterrent until reading this thread

blkZ28Conv · 11-29-03, 08:09

Now it definitely sounds like an inside JOB. Some off-the-street thief doing this while the vehicle was outside of the shop would not very likely re-assemble the plate.

ahunt01 · 11-29-03, 08:17

Yeah I feel it was an inside job too. I'm glad the officer stopped me, otherwise I would have never knew it was done. What really sucks is that this shop, while not being that good, is still the best in my area. So if I have to have work done that is covered under their lifetime warranty I'm just going to have to make sure there's nothing to steal. I'm taking my rims off and putting my old ones on, taking any aftermarket parts that are stealable, and taking off the plate. The only thing that will be worth while stealing is the car lol.

ahunt01 · 11-29-03, 10:20

Well I've heard that the body shop works on all the police cruisers, so I doubt the police will pursue it much. I might have to pay 20 dollars to get a new sticker though. And when I go to my court date for having an expired registration, I'll bring my registration card proving that it isn't expired so that charge should be dropped. I filed a report of theft at the police station, not like it'll do any good but it atleast makes my case look more credible.
I doubt I'll get the fine for driving without proof of insurance dropped though. That was my fault, although under the circumstances I would have thought the officer would have cut me some slack. Talk about a nice present from the city, a $700 fine, $350 for no insurance or registration with me, and another $350 for expired registration.