I Could Have Been Arrested In D.C. -- For An Expired Car Registration
I've been working like mad lately, with my new Sunday night radio show/podcast, the book I'm working on, the op-ed I'm trying to place on our civil liberties, so I've been a little scattered on my life stuff. I got my renewed car registration form and the new 2012 tag to stick on my license plate but left the envelope laying around somewhere and only discovered it a day after my current tag had expired.
I ran out and quick-quick stuck thew new tag on my license plate, glad that I hadn't gotten a ticket for an expired tag during my one day of delinquency. In D.C., in one more sign of the continuing growth of the police state, I could have ended up in the slammer. Mike DeBonis writes for the WaPo:
The D.C. police department has released preliminary statistics on the controversial practice of arresting drivers whose vehicles are unregistered or have expired registration. The numbers indicate that the practice is more widespread than previously thought, with several arrests per day on average.In the one-year period starting Oct. 1, 2009, records indicate that 2,163 persons were arrested in the District for expired tags. In the subsequent year, ending in September, arrests declined dramatically, to 1,334. The numbers include arrests made by all law enforcement agencies in the city, not just the Metropolitan Police Department.
Police spokeswoman Gwendolyn Crump said department analysts are still reviewing the data, which "may be overstated, and may be revised downward in the coming days."
The D.C. Council voted Tuesday to end arrests for expired tags on a temporary basis while lawmakers decide whether to continue a policy that has been in place for decades.
Thanks for reminding me, I need to purchase new tabs by the end of the month.
If the tabs are way out of date it seems a bit harsh but not totally unreasonable. There is a difference in being a little forgetful and just plane dodging the system.
I thought the policy they had when I was in H.S. was pretty good. If the tab had been expired less than a month and you presented to the court that you had acquired and placed the tab within a week of being cited, it was only $20 ticket (note, tab cost more also).
The Former Banker at October 20, 2011 11:14 PM
Keep in mind that the one single thing the DC government does well is traffic enforcement. It derives a significant revenue from tickets and towing so it's gotten that part of "governing" down. It's almost surprising that the Shi ... unh ... City Council has bothered to take this up.
BlogDog at October 21, 2011 5:57 AM
Fortunately, I have no reason to go to DC again, and now I have a reason not to. You would think the Chamber of Commerce would support candidates who would work to repeal this, but the freedom and welfare of the people is not the top priority in that town.
MarkD at October 21, 2011 6:21 AM
In Florida, your tag is due on your birthday. You have a 30 day grace period to purchase your tags.
You also have the option to pay for two years of registration. And you can do this all online.
I R A Darth Aggie at October 21, 2011 6:30 AM
In TX, if you get a ticket for an expired registration tag, and the tag is less than 60 days expired, you can renew the tag and get the ticket repealed for an approximately $20 admin fee. Otherwise, it's a $150(or so) ticket, plus you have to renew your registration anyway. I think it works the same way for inspection stickers. Seems reasonable to me.
ahw at October 21, 2011 10:09 AM
And it goes without saying that D.C. has one of the highest murder rates in the country. Arrest criminals? Why, that's too much trouble! Criminals insist on running and hiding and such, and sometimes they shoot back. Much easier to arrest ordinary citizens.
Cousin Dave at October 21, 2011 4:09 PM
So, I know you dont like banning people - but how about these spam ads? Not even in english
lujlp at October 21, 2011 11:42 PM
Este en realidad fue un post bastante interesante. Voy a crear mi propio empresa de comercio de vivienda y por ello tengo que conocer lo mas que pueda acerca del negocio y adicionalmente acerca software y negocios. Su publicacionfue muy importante. Adicionalmente, tambien buscotiempo para la diversion. Otra vez gracias =)
metro cuadrado bogota arriendos apartamentos at October 22, 2011 12:51 AM
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