F'n DMV website plate renewal info is wrong

[struggle4progress]

regarding the computerized database to check inspections: website says you have to have passed inspection in last 12 months to renew, but actually you can't renew unless passed inspection in last 90 days :grr:

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

1. wrong information from the NC DMV

no way


alert the media


:sarcasm:

[struggle4progress]

2. Jest tryin t'save ya a trip

I thought, I'll renew my plate today and next week I'll get inspected

Y'know, like I have done for more than 20 years

Wait ... mebbe I oughta check the DMV website first ... nope, everything's cool!

But then down at the plate renewal office: "Sorry. Ya gotta had inspected widdin last 90 days"

[supernova]

3. I always get inspected first

then the sticker, usually within a month of each other.

I'm gonna try it over the web this year instead of in person to see how it works. Though, going tot he DMV office in University Mall isn't t that traumatic. It's less busy than other places I've been.

[unc70]

4. System is transitioning so inspection/tag are in sync

NC is transitioning from previous year to previous 90 days for the inspection. This 18-month transitiion is about over, so you are now on the new system.

In previous years, the inspection and tag renewal months were independent of each other except that each had an annual renewal cycle. While most new cars would had inspections in the same or prior month than the tag one, there were many ways for them to become separated, for example a new owner retagging the vehicle.

The tracking and enforcement systems were ineffective, made worse by having separate, poorly integrated computer systems. For example, if the inspection month was just after the tag month, you could renew your tag but not do the inspection, or not pass it, and the only indication to anyone was the windshield sticker. An emissions or safety problem that began soon after passing inspection one year, retagging eleven months later, and then not inspecting the following month could persist for nearly two years before the second tag renewal would be blocked until inspected.

There were a lot of issues elsewhere dealing with vehicles, drivers licenses, and highway safety. A few years back, they changed some of the laws and procedures, developed new online systems combining all the data in one place, and made it easier to enforce compliance. Once we finish the 18-month-long transition to the new "sticker-less" system, they hope it will be simpler for all of us, too, but the requisites have increased and all are tracked in the new system. To renew your tag:

1. Pay property taxes on vehicle to county where registered, due roughly six months before tag month.

2. Pass inspection within 90 days prior to tag renewal.

3. Have required liability insurance through a firm licensed in NC.

4. Owner have a current and valid NC drivers license. If the owner no longer drives, or has died, or their license has been revoked or suspended, or they reside and are licensed in another state while the vehicle is kept in NC (e.g. at a second home), then the procedures are more complicated.

If you move to NC from another state, you have to bring everything into compliance for NC.

Many law enforcement vehicles are being equiped with special cameras and automatic tag recognition systems that actively check against the database of ones with these problems, along with those of interest as stolen or involved in criminal investigations.

The many parts of this system address some big problems. Termination of insurance without replacement coverage is detected quickly and flagged. Vehicles associated with those with revoked or suspended licenses, particularly from DWI, produce alerts for officers to look closer for possible repeat offenders.

While I have a few privacy concerns, I see this system as being a big improvement.