How Do I Change My Registration to PA and Weird Stop By the Cops

Submitted by Realistic-Incident88 t3_y4rvm8 in Pennsylvania

Was driving on the highway got stopped by the cops. Cop said stopped because registration expired. He said they have a tool in the car to look up license plates to see if they are expired or not.

He was very nice. I gave him my license, it's an out-of-state one. I've always wanted to change my license back to a PA one since moving here, but didn't have the chance, because of that my car is registered under my relative here in PA so I could have a PA license plate.

He comes back to my car (after I had given my registration and license) saying no worries I didn't give you a citation or ticket, but he showed me this piece of paper saying all my relative has to do is sign this paper pleading either guilty or not guilty and send this into the address. I was glad that I didn't get a ticket or citation in my name or my relatives.

Lo and behold once I drive I look at the paper he handed me and its a citation, but in my relative's name. I don't know why he insisted that I didn't recieve a ticket/citation and even after I asked is there anything I need to pay he said no. But it's a whole citation with an amount due in my relative's name.

So that's about my weird stop by the cop, but yeah this put a fire in my butt to change my license to PA and get my own registration to register my car under it.

Where/how can I get that started?

2

Comments

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russ257 t1_isg21id wrote

Ok step 1 pay the fine for your relative. Step 2 go get a PA drivers license. Step 3 get the registration and insurance in your name.

10

hvacthrowaway223 t1_isghy6r wrote

What was unclear? He did not give you a citation but he did give your relative one.

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Adept-Sir414 t1_isubin5 wrote

He literally said verbatim, Im not giving you a ticket or a citation while holding the piece of paper and he was being really nice. Why would he do that, it confused me. He even insisted all my siblings had to do was sign the line pleading guilty or not guilty, never made reference that the paper he had was a payment to be paid even after I asked is there anything I have to pay. Very not nice.

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hvacthrowaway223 t1_isuny2b wrote

The paper was a citation issued to your sibling not you. So he did not issue you a citation.

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Bird_Brain4101112 t1_isgnsv1 wrote

Ok. He didn’t give YOU a citation for driving with expired registration.

But he did cite the owner of the car for registration being out of date.

Ya dig.

6

TheWorldInMySilence t1_isfjujd wrote

Have you researched penndot site?

https://www.dmv.pa.gov/Driver-Services/New-Resident-Relocation-Information/New%20Residents/Pages/Motor-Vehicle-Information-for-New-Residents.aspx

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Realistic-Incident88 OP t1_isfofnp wrote

Thanks! Checked out that site and their saying I need a PA insurance, I currently have insurance through my relative as well, I wonder how I can change that to my own?

0

InteligentTard t1_isfkdxt wrote

The car was registered to your relative. Registration was expired therefore it’s your relatives citation. If I was your relative I would get the registration fixed and show up to the magistrate and plead not guilty. Most likely it will be dropped. I once got a speeding ticket while driving a relatives car. Instead of the cop looking at my drivers license to fill out the ticket he wrote it out to my relative who was on the registration. They took it to court and had it dropped cause they weren’t the one speeding.

To change your registration just go to any notary or visit the dmv website

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Spirit_Falcon t1_isfrec7 wrote

I don't think the relatives citation will be dropped. The citation was for an expired registration and the registration is truly expired. He's the responsible party and will have to pay the fine. Not the same as your relative's speeding ticket. They were not the responsible party for you speeding, that's why their citation was dropped.

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InteligentTard t1_isfujid wrote

I’m not saying it’s the exact thing. If he were to show up to court with it taken care of they generally aren’t that petty. Of course it depends on the magistrate and how long the registration has been expired.

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twohoundtown t1_isgizbi wrote

We are talking about PA right? They are dicks of the worst sort.

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worstatit t1_isjj15w wrote

Both driver and owner are responsible for registration and inspection violations. Insurance is on owner only. Technically, he could have cited both. Still weird that the owner was cited. Perhaps the officer was making a point about registering vehicles for others?

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_SundaeDriver t1_isjmsm0 wrote

You google how to change registration and follow the directions. Prob easier then waiting for an answer on reddit

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rjb5065 t1_isfsml7 wrote

My lawyer friend says out of license plates and registration get pulled over for reason all the time by state police in PA.

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That_Checks t1_isghnsj wrote

It's the same when anybody crosses a border. It's a tax on the tourists instead of the locals. After all, you don't want to be hated by your neighbors for pulling them over.

I don't support it, but it's a thing.

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WookieeSteakIsChewie t1_isi0pcc wrote

Or you could just not let your registration expire?

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That_Checks t1_isj6slk wrote

Yeah, that paperwork probably saved lives

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WookieeSteakIsChewie t1_isj7pkg wrote

So we should just let everyone let their registrations expire?

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That_Checks t1_isj9gvw wrote

It's a civil matter. The citation paperwork could be processed by the DMV and mailed out to the registration owner. Let the police stick to crimes that make our society safer. Just my opinion.

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Bird_Brain4101112 t1_isgo4u0 wrote

It’s more that someone out of state is less likely to fight the ticket because it would mean traveling back to the area. They are more likely to just pay it.

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Adept-Sir414 t1_isub0y6 wrote

I have a PA license because I am registered with my relative who is a PA resident

1