Article

2009-02-03 -Short Attention Span Theater-

Costa Mesa Confiscates Personal Property

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Posted by James Carville 2009-02-03 14:58|| || Front Page|| [6 views ] Top

#1 California Department of Motor Vehicles is probably the most unpopular of a state bureaucracies. I never understood why a car has to be registered every year except that it's an opportunity for the state to collect an extra tax. You register the car when you buy it. That should be enough but not in California. But even if the registration is expired it shouldn't be more than a fine, not an impound.

Posted by Ebbang Uluque6305 2009-02-03 19:22|| 2009-02-03 19:22|| Front Page Top

#2 The State of Georgia has a liberal immigration policy for California residents, plenty of value for your housing dollar, excellent colleges, a good supply of used cars, and we pay only an initial vehicle registration.

Posted by Besoeker 2009-02-03 19:35|| 2009-02-03 19:35|| Front Page Top

#3 On a more serious note, I'd contact local TV and media outlets and invite them go along with cameras rolling when you go in to pay the fine.

Posted by Besoeker 2009-02-03 19:42|| 2009-02-03 19:42|| Front Page Top

#4 B-

Be careful about inviting Californians to move to your state. They're known to screw up well run economies.

Posted by DoDo 2009-02-03 19:57|| 2009-02-03 19:57|| Front Page Top

#5 JC - any car found operating or parked on a city street with an expired reg past 90 days is routinely impounded in CA. It's not just Costa Mesa

Posted by Frank G 2009-02-03 20:55|| 2009-02-03 20:55|| Front Page Top

#6 Frank G. is correct. I had an old truck that got impounded on this. Buying the tag & paying the fine is bad enough, but leaving it in impound for more than a day or two is where they side swipe you and run up the charges. Your daughter is between a rock and a hard spot unfortunately. Was the alley public or private property ? If it was a city alley, there's not much you can do except pay.

Posted by Woozle Elmeter 2700 2009-02-03 21:08|| 2009-02-03 21:08|| Front Page Top

#7 it is 6 months and not 90 days...you can drive your car up to six months and all it is a fix it ticket. After 6 months they will impound -- driving or parked. I routinely drive up to the very last day of the 5th month :)...welcome tho the rebublic of kalifornia

Posted by Dan 2009-02-03 21:14|| 2009-02-03 21:14|| Front Page Top

#8 James, as a former parking enforcement ossifer....don't bother with the mayor. He/she/it probably won't even read it, has no interest in the matter and most likely has no authority in that area. (Most mayors are basically trotted out for ceremonial crap...the real bizness is covered by city managers and staff.)

Find out who is in charge of that towing detail. Write the sergeant/captain, whatever. CC the chief. Ask them as nicely as you can stomach about the circumstances of your daughter's tow.

Maybe everything wasn't followed to the letter and they can cut her a break. Hell, maybe everything was, and they still might (yeah, yeah, yeah youse guys....believe me, it did happen when we got someone who didn't start screaming about their civil rights being violated and how we were all Nazis.) We were so shocked to deal with a mature adult that we decided to be nice the four times it occurred. Couldn't hurt to try.

Don't bother with Besoeker's suggestion. It will only put them on the defensive and they will enforce every tiny detail of the law if the media is there. You don't want your daughter to be an example to others now, do you? That's what they will do if you trot out there, steaming mad, with Eyewitness Newz in your wake.

Best of luck to you guys and hope it ends well.

Posted by Cornsilk Blondie 2009-02-03 21:38|| 2009-02-03 21:38|| Front Page Top

#9 Make sure your daughter graduates and then gets a good job, and her taxes, out of state.

Posted by ed 2009-02-03 21:42|| 2009-02-03 21:42|| Front Page Top

#10 CNN + CNBC > California's State Deficit of US$40.0Bilyuhn is so huge that even iff the Congress passed any of the proposed STIMULUS BILLS, THE AVERAGE STIMULUS AMOUNT CA-SPECIFIC LEGAL RESIDENTS MAY RECEIVE WOULD NOT MAKE A DENT IN REDUCING THE STATE DEFICIT, and in fact may be held back by the STATE GOVT = SACRAMENTO + GOVERNATOR IN ORDER TO JUST TRY OR ATTEMPT TO CATCH UP ON ITS DEFICIT [Best-Case > ONLY A MINOR TOTAL DEFICIT REDUX]???

Posted by JosephMendiola 2009-02-03 22:46|| 2009-02-03 22:46|| Front Page Top

#11 CA State Deficit is so big and so bad that State Govt. Politicians and US CongressCritters may try to LEGISLATIVELY BLOCK OR DIRECT PAYMENTS TO INDIVIDUALS, etc., or DIVERT TO THE STATE GOVT COFFERS BEFORE "DISTRIBUTION/DISSEMINATION" TO SAME [read, IFF ANY = LEGISLAT "DELAY"].

Trickster-eenies.

Posted by JosephMendiola 2009-02-03 22:53|| 2009-02-03 22:53|| Front Page Top

#12 Leave California NOW (unless you are a liberal).

Posted by OldSpook 2009-02-03 23:20|| 2009-02-03 23:20|| Front Page Top

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