A WARNING when taking a car into a shop

A

ahunt01

New member
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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. :mad:
 
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.
 
I have plate covers too but didn't think about how they can be a deterrent until reading this thread :xyxthumbs
 
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. :nixweiss
 
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.
 
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.
 
When you go before the judge, tell them that you removed all paperwork (proof of insurance) and other valuables from your car in case of theft. When you picked up the car, you forgot the paperwork and were going home and then at that time, going to put all of the paperwork and valuables back in the car. Then show current registration and insurance and I think you will be ok.
 
Yeah the officer that pulled me over said I shouldn't have to pay the fine. I really don't know why he gave me the ticket if he knows the judge will probably throw it out? Maybe to meet a quota?
 
In MI all you have to do is is show the current proof of insurance to the court and they will immediately drop the fine. Twice I didn't have it on me, once on my way to court for another traffic violation...I get extra copies for my walllet now :D
 
It works out good, I am always forgetting to put paper work back into car after detailing the interior, and of course I never get pulled over except when I forget to put it back in there :D
 
Explain your case just like you have done here. Factually, professionally and most of all honestly. Explain why you removed your possessions including paperwork. Be honest about being naive ( I was until it happened to me ) about realizing the potential of someone stealing your sticker(s).

A good reason today for removing paperwork is Identity thief. I think you will be okay. :xyxthumbs
 
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