So I was out test driving new vehicles today at a used car place, and the dealer let me take one of the cars out while he jumped another one that I wanted to drive (bad sign, I know). He threw the license plate in the back window, and I took off. On my way back, I get pulled by an undercover state trooper and end up getting a ticket for improperly displayed tags, which up here in Maryland is a $280 fine. I explained to the officer that I was test driving it, and told him the plate even said dealer on it, and that I was less than a mile from the car lot if he wanted to follow, but he didn’t seem to care and told me to work it out with the dealer.

I go back and the guy is a stereotypical used car guy (trying to fast talk me to death), trying to tell me that they will take responsibility for it, but there is no way he is going to pay $280 for it, and that he wants to take it to court. So I call the Highway Patrol and see if I can get the ticket transferred to his name, but I cant, and now I have to get this guy to give me the money so I can pay the ticket, or I am going to take his ass to court.

You would think that a dealer would be smart enough to keep the customers happy, especially when I was standing in the lot actively looking to spend $20k or more for a car. I guess he would rather keep his $280 than earn $20k by acting like a responsible human being.

/rant

7/5/2006 7:14:20 PM

you sir are fucked...

7/5/2006 7:17:32 PM

or maybe you shouldn't be a dumbass and drive a car illegally. take responsibility for YOUR actions and pay it.

7/5/2006 7:20:50 PM

EXACTLY

7/5/2006 7:22:52 PM

right, I have never seen anyone get pulled for having the license plate in the back window...hell, I have seen cops driving behind people with their plate written on cardboard and not done shit. I guess I should buy the cops guide to traffic laws so I can make sure I cover the dealers mistakes when I am out test driving cars.

[Edited on July 5, 2006 at 7:44 PM. Reason : .]

7/5/2006 7:43:04 PM

thats bullshit

im suprised that you got the ticket when he saw that it was a dealer tag

7/5/2006 7:45:08 PM

you failed to mention what kind of dealer it was or what kind of car it was
how do you expect us to judge you

7/5/2006 7:45:18 PM

it was a drug dealer wasnt it?

7/5/2006 7:52:24 PM

Quote :

"you sir are fucked... "

7/5/2006 8:12:19 PM

Quote :

"how do you expect us to judge you "

7/5/2006 8:13:45 PM

no, it was a smaller used dealer/mechanic shop dealing with import cars (was a volvo s60 I was driving at the time). First and probably last time I go to a used car lot to buy a car.

^^^^^I was as surprised as you when I got the ticket too. I thought the guy was just going to run my license for warrants and the VIN for a stolen car, which he did both, but then he came back 20 minutes later with the ticket.

[Edited on July 5, 2006 at 8:15 PM. Reason : ^]

7/5/2006 8:14:16 PM

I really don't think that charge would stick if you go to court and explain the situation in a courteous manner.
Ahmet

7/5/2006 8:25:51 PM

Quote :

"or I am going to take his ass to court."

for what? you were driving the car. you are responsible for the vehicle you are driving. so that means:

Quote :

"you sir are fucked..."

and

Quote :

"maybe you shouldn't be a dumbass and drive a car illegally. take responsibility for YOUR actions and pay it."

7/6/2006 8:12:00 PM

u guys r assholes, its not his fault

7/6/2006 9:03:21 PM

ok. then we'll find out when he tries to sue.

7/6/2006 9:08:31 PM

he got fucked, its not like he should know that....the dealer should take responsibility, however he probably won't

7/6/2006 9:10:25 PM

thats freakin rediculous.

Quote :

"I really don't think that charge would stick if you go to court and explain the situation in a courteous manner."

7/6/2006 9:12:25 PM

Little used car dealerships are rat bastards.

One once tried to sell me a car that had the entire air conditioning system removed (compressor, everything) while claiming that it "the AC works really good". And I was like "Really because it doesn't have a compressor." and he tried to play it off. The car had been in an accident and rebuilt and was a total piece of shit.

7/13/2006 10:43:54 AM

that sux

7/13/2006 10:50:11 AM

Troopers don't go easy on people. No matter what situation it is. If they stop you, there's a very very slim chance you'll drive away without any tickets. Did the dealer tags have a magnetic strip on it? why didn't he put it on the trunk? I live by the leith dearship in cary and I see cars without any kind of tags on the cars constantly. Cops don't care as long as they are driving correctly. The salesmen just throw the tags in the backseat, not even properly displayed. I see no issues with them.

7/13/2006 11:14:24 AM

i got pulled over going ~110-120 on the gixxer weaving in and outta traffic by a trooper. i told him i got my sprockets changed and i thought everyone was going slow. it was such a bad excuse shit came outta my mouth. he let me go with a written warning.

haha.

7/13/2006 12:44:37 PM

thats what you get for living in maryland

7/13/2006 5:28:05 PM

Just take it to court, and make sure the dealer comes with you.....or at least get a lawyer

7/13/2006 7:35:56 PM

That shit aint right.
sux dude.

7/16/2006 3:10:02 AM

wanting to spend 20k and you're having to jump the car you want to test drive?

7/16/2006 4:15:11 AM

Wait. Just so I know for future notice: how do I test drive a vehicle "legally"?

Does it have to do with where the tags are? Do I have to have someone in the car with me?

[Edited on July 16, 2006 at 8:00 AM. Reason : ^I thought the same thing.]

7/16/2006 7:58:45 AM

batteries do go bad

7/16/2006 3:40:24 PM