Have to renew my vehicle license plate this month.

California allows you to do this on line.

A few key strokes and you're done.

A far cry from when I was young back in Ohio.

Back then, the entire state had license plate renewal in March.

Temporary license registrars were set up all over the state (It was a
political patronage job).

People would stand in lines for hours, especially as April 1
approached.

Standing in line was bad enough, but March in Ohio can have some nasty
weather.

Back then, the auto manufacturers were no help.

Plastic inserts had not been developed to accept license plate screws
so getting rusty bolts apart was a special problem, especially if the
road crews had spread a lot of salt over the winter.

The above ranks right up there with walking to school in -20F weather
and 20 mile/hr winds.

Glad things have changed.

Lew

On Mar 18, 2:20*am, "Lew Hodgett" wrote:
(snip)


The above ranks right up there with walking to school in -20F weather
and 20 mile/hr winds.

Glad things have changed.

So there *is* an up side to global warming (grin)

On Mar 18, 3:20*am, "Lew Hodgett" wrote:
Have to renew my vehicle license plate this month.

California allows you to do this on line.

A few key strokes and you're done.

A far cry from when I was young back in Ohio.

Back then, the entire state had license plate renewal in March.

Temporary license registrars were set up all over the state (It was a
political patronage job).

People would stand in lines for hours, especially as April 1
approached.

Standing in line was bad enough, but March in Ohio can have some nasty
weather.

Back then, the auto manufacturers were no help.

Plastic inserts had not been developed to accept license plate screws
so getting rusty bolts apart was a special problem, especially if the
road crews had spread a lot of salt over the winter.

The above ranks right up there with walking to school in -20F weather
and 20 mile/hr winds.

Glad things have changed.

Lew

It's nice to know that paying our auto registration tax has been made
easier than your early experiences in Ohio.
When I was a youngster going to grade school, I had to walk 5 miles
in the snow up hill both ways.

Joe G

"GROVER" wrote
When I was a youngster going to grade school, I had to walk 5 miles
in the snow up hill both ways.

Joe G

You had school? We had to find a smart person and follow them around.

On 3/18/2010 5:43 AM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

"GROVER" wrote
When I was a youngster going to grade school, I had to walk 5 miles
in the snow up hill both ways.

Joe G

You had school? We had to find a smart person and follow them around.

We had to find a dumb dinosaur and wait for it to evolve.

On Mar 18, 2:20*am, "Lew Hodgett" wrote:
Have to renew my vehicle license plate this month.

California allows you to do this on line.

A few key strokes and you're done.

A far cry from when I was young back in Ohio.

Back then, the entire state had license plate renewal in March.

Temporary license registrars were set up all over the state (It was a
political patronage job).

People would stand in lines for hours, especially as April 1
approached.

Standing in line was bad enough, but March in Ohio can have some nasty
weather.

Back then, the auto manufacturers were no help.

Plastic inserts had not been developed to accept license plate screws
so getting rusty bolts apart was a special problem, especially if the
road crews had spread a lot of salt over the winter.

The above ranks right up there with walking to school in -20F weather
and 20 mile/hr winds.

Glad things have changed.

Now that they've made it a joy to renew your license, they can make it
a monthly experience.

"Lew Hodgett" wrote in message
...
Have to renew my vehicle license plate this month.

California allows you to do this on line.

A few key strokes and you're done.

A far cry from when I was young back in Ohio.

Back then, the entire state had license plate renewal in March.

Temporary license registrars were set up all over the state (It was a
political patronage job).

People would stand in lines for hours, especially as April 1 approached.

Standing in line was bad enough, but March in Ohio can have some nasty
weather.

Back then, the auto manufacturers were no help.

Plastic inserts had not been developed to accept license plate screws so
getting rusty bolts apart was a special problem, especially if the road
crews had spread a lot of salt over the winter.

The above ranks right up there with walking to school in -20F weather and
20 mile/hr winds.

Glad things have changed.

Lew

Geepers Lew, I recall when I was a small boy, 6 years old or so, standing
in line with my dad for those license plates once a year in Texas. But ever
since I have been driving in Texas, 1970 ish you have been able to get
license plates most any where and for several years, 10 + I have been
reordering on line. Reordering on line is especially helpful if the renewal
notice gets lost in the mail.

On 3/18/2010 8:24 AM, Leon wrote:
"Lew wrote in message
...
Have to renew my vehicle license plate this month.

California allows you to do this on line.

A few key strokes and you're done.

A far cry from when I was young back in Ohio.

Back then, the entire state had license plate renewal in March.

Temporary license registrars were set up all over the state (It was a
political patronage job).

People would stand in lines for hours, especially as April 1 approached.

Standing in line was bad enough, but March in Ohio can have some nasty
weather.

Back then, the auto manufacturers were no help.

Plastic inserts had not been developed to accept license plate screws so
getting rusty bolts apart was a special problem, especially if the road
crews had spread a lot of salt over the winter.

The above ranks right up there with walking to school in -20F weather and
20 mile/hr winds.

Glad things have changed.

Lew

Geepers Lew, I recall when I was a small boy, 6 years old or so, standing
in line with my dad for those license plates once a year in Texas. But ever
since I have been driving in Texas, 1970 ish you have been able to get
license plates most any where and for several years, 10 + I have been
reordering on line. Reordering on line is especially helpful if the renewal
notice gets lost in the mail.

Just got my truck renewal notice, for April, this week. I've never tried
doing it online in Texas (I understand it is "participating Counties
only, and from what you say, Harris is one?).

How do you provide "proof of insurance"?

Told me what I gotta do, cher?

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 10/22/08
KarlC@ (the obvious)

"Swingman" wrote in message
...
On 3/18/2010 8:24 AM, Leon wrote:
"Lew wrote in message
...
Have to renew my vehicle license plate this month.

California allows you to do this on line.

A few key strokes and you're done.

A far cry from when I was young back in Ohio.

Back then, the entire state had license plate renewal in March.

Temporary license registrars were set up all over the state (It was a
political patronage job).

People would stand in lines for hours, especially as April 1 approached.

Standing in line was bad enough, but March in Ohio can have some nasty
weather.

Back then, the auto manufacturers were no help.

Plastic inserts had not been developed to accept license plate screws so
getting rusty bolts apart was a special problem, especially if the road
crews had spread a lot of salt over the winter.

The above ranks right up there with walking to school in -20F weather
and
20 mile/hr winds.

Glad things have changed.

Lew

Geepers Lew, I recall when I was a small boy, 6 years old or so,
standing
in line with my dad for those license plates once a year in Texas. But
ever
since I have been driving in Texas, 1970 ish you have been able to get
license plates most any where and for several years, 10 + I have been
reordering on line. Reordering on line is especially helpful if the
renewal
notice gets lost in the mail.

Just got my truck renewal notice, for April, this week. I've never tried
doing it online in Texas (I understand it is "participating Counties only,
and from what you say, Harris is one?).

How do you provide "proof of insurance"?

Told me what I gotta do, cher?

I do not to this every time because I wait till the lase minute. I don't
always want to depend on the mail to deliver when it is getting down to the
wire.
But IIRC when on line you provde your agent's name, policy number, phone
number. They apparently are able to quickly verify and mail you the
sticker.

On 3/18/2010 9:16 AM, Leon wrote:

Told me what I gotta do, cher?

I do not to this every time because I wait till the lase minute. I don't
always want to depend on the mail to deliver when it is getting down to the
wire.
But IIRC when on line you provde your agent's name, policy number, phone
number. They apparently are able to quickly verify and mail you the
sticker.

Just did it ... all you do is provide the license plate number and the
last four of the VIN, and Texas insurance is automatically verified.

I'd heard that there was a new online insurance database that the police
could access by keying in a license plate number. This certainly
verifies that.

Won't be long and there will be a database to make sure your homeowner's
policy is paid ... after all, gotta protect the County's property tax base.

Good news is despite the $2 online fee, the total cost was, to the
penny, exactly what it was last year when I renewed in person at Randalls.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 10/22/08
KarlC@ (the obvious)

On 3/18/10 11:32 AM, Swingman wrote:
On 3/18/2010 9:16 AM, Leon wrote:

Told me what I gotta do, cher?

I do not to this every time because I wait till the lase minute. I don't
always want to depend on the mail to deliver when it is getting down
to the
wire.
But IIRC when on line you provde your agent's name, policy number, phone
number. They apparently are able to quickly verify and mail you the
sticker.

Just did it ... all you do is provide the license plate number and the
last four of the VIN, and Texas insurance is automatically verified.

I'd heard that there was a new online insurance database that the police
could access by keying in a license plate number. This certainly
verifies that.

Won't be long and there will be a database to make sure your homeowner's
policy is paid ... after all, gotta protect the County's property tax base.

Good news is despite the $2 online fee, the total cost was, to the
penny, exactly what it was last year when I renewed in person at Randalls.

Why the VIN, isn't the vehicle already registered in your name?
Here the notice in the mail already includes your VIN, make, model, year
and colour of the vehicle.

--
Froz...


The system will be down for 10 days for preventive maintenance.

"Swingman" wrote in message
...
On 3/18/2010 9:16 AM, Leon wrote:

Told me what I gotta do, cher?

I do not to this every time because I wait till the lase minute. I don't
always want to depend on the mail to deliver when it is getting down to
the
wire.
But IIRC when on line you provde your agent's name, policy number, phone
number. They apparently are able to quickly verify and mail you the
sticker.

Just did it ... all you do is provide the license plate number and the
last four of the VIN, and Texas insurance is automatically verified.

I'd heard that there was a new online insurance database that the police
could access by keying in a license plate number. This certainly verifies
that.

Won't be long and there will be a database to make sure your homeowner's
policy is paid ... after all, gotta protect the County's property tax
base.

Good news is despite the $2 online fee, the total cost was, to the penny,
exactly what it was last year when I renewed in person at Randalls.


Good! And less hassle.

On Thu, 18 Mar 2010 10:32:09 -0500, the infamous Swingman
scrawled the following:

On 3/18/2010 9:16 AM, Leon wrote:

Told me what I gotta do, cher?

I do not to this every time because I wait till the lase minute. I don't
always want to depend on the mail to deliver when it is getting down to the
wire.
But IIRC when on line you provde your agent's name, policy number, phone
number. They apparently are able to quickly verify and mail you the
sticker.

Just did it ... all you do is provide the license plate number and the
last four of the VIN, and Texas insurance is automatically verified.

I'd heard that there was a new online insurance database that the police
could access by keying in a license plate number. This certainly
verifies that.

Won't be long and there will be a database to make sure your homeowner's
policy is paid ... after all, gotta protect the County's property tax base.

Good news is despite the $2 online fee, the total cost was, to the
penny, exactly what it was last year when I renewed in person at Randalls.

The Oregon Construction Contractor's Board just sent out statements to
the fact that if your taxes aren't paid, you don't get your
contractor's license renewed, and they said it in a very sweet way.

I just love the state of gov't finances right now, don't you? Despite
that, Oregon gov't has grown by 37% in the past 4 years (2 budgets)
With the Public Employee's Retirement System (PERS), you can retire
and make more money then than you made on the payroll, as a working
person. It's bankrupting us.

--
No matter how cynical you are, it is impossible to keep up.
--Lily Tomlin

On Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:09:59 -0500, the infamous Swingman
scrawled the following:

Geepers Lew, I recall when I was a small boy, 6 years old or so, standing
in line with my dad for those license plates once a year in Texas. But ever
since I have been driving in Texas, 1970 ish you have been able to get
license plates most any where and for several years, 10 + I have been
reordering on line. Reordering on line is especially helpful if the renewal
notice gets lost in the mail.

Just got my truck renewal notice, for April, this week. I've never tried
doing it online in Texas (I understand it is "participating Counties
only, and from what you say, Harris is one?).

How do you provide "proof of insurance"?

Told me what I gotta do, cher?

Ask your insurance company for a proof card. It says "Swingy has
insurance policy #xyz123, valid from Jan2010 thru June2010. Give him
stickers for his plates, please."

I use USAA (a Texicus Corporation) and they send my cards every time I
renew, and have for at least a decade. You're not running a
goat-powered pickup bed cart, are you? You got a pick-em-up truck?

--
No matter how cynical you are, it is impossible to keep up.
--Lily Tomlin

On 3/18/2010 11:31 PM, Larry Jaques wrote:
On Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:09:59 -0500, the infamous Swingman


Just got my truck renewal notice, for April, this week. I've never tried
doing it online in Texas (I understand it is "participating Counties
only, and from what you say, Harris is one?).

How do you provide "proof of insurance"?

Told me what I gotta do, cher?

Ask your insurance company for a proof card. It says "Swingy has
insurance policy #xyz123, valid from Jan2010 thru June2010. Give him
stickers for his plates, please."

Got plenty of those, but for the online I couldn't find a slot on the
laptop to stuff'em down the uVerse wire to the court house.

I use USAA (a Texicus Corporation) and they send my cards every time I
renew, and have for at least a decade. You're not running a
goat-powered pickup bed cart, are you? You got a pick-em-up truck?

Yeppers, my work truck is an 01 Dodge that's getting long in the tooth,
complete with a "40 year" USAA membership bumper sticker on the back
window (woot woot!??).

Been a continuous member since 1968. It ain't the same company today as
it was back then, but still top notch ... even do some banking with them
these days.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 10/22/08
KarlC@ (the obvious)

On Fri, 19 Mar 2010 06:45:17 -0500, the infamous Swingman
scrawled the following:

On 3/18/2010 11:31 PM, Larry Jaques wrote:
On Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:09:59 -0500, the infamous Swingman


Just got my truck renewal notice, for April, this week. I've never tried
doing it online in Texas (I understand it is "participating Counties
only, and from what you say, Harris is one?).

How do you provide "proof of insurance"?

Told me what I gotta do, cher?

Ask your insurance company for a proof card. It says "Swingy has
insurance policy #xyz123, valid from Jan2010 thru June2010. Give him
stickers for his plates, please."

Got plenty of those, but for the online I couldn't find a slot on the
laptop to stuff'em down the uVerse wire to the court house.

Those only come on Windows boxes. So solly.


I use USAA (a Texicus Corporation) and they send my cards every time I
renew, and have for at least a decade. You're not running a
goat-powered pickup bed cart, are you? You got a pick-em-up truck?

Yeppers, my work truck is an 01 Dodge that's getting long in the tooth,
complete with a "40 year" USAA membership bumper sticker on the back
window (woot woot!??).

They never sent me my 25 year sticker. I could complain.


Been a continuous member since 1968. It ain't the same company today as
it was back then, but still top notch ... even do some banking with them
these days.

They've always treated me right, and took care of me when the idiot
woman rearended me on the freeway. Her ins co went tits up when she
filed the claim so USAA paid for my therapy. (no, physical

--
Adults are obsolete children. --Dr. Seuss (Theodore Geisel, 1904-1991)
--

On 3/18/2010 2:20 AM, Lew Hodgett wrote:
Have to renew my vehicle license plate this month.

California allows you to do this on line.

A few key strokes and you're done.

Glad things have changed.

What, no "proof of insurance", or can you do that online also?

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 10/22/08
KarlC@ (the obvious)

On 3/18/10 10:00 AM, Swingman wrote:
On 3/18/2010 2:20 AM, Lew Hodgett wrote:
Have to renew my vehicle license plate this month.

California allows you to do this on line.

A few key strokes and you're done.

Glad things have changed.

What, no "proof of insurance", or can you do that online also?

Don't know what they accept there, but here in Ontario, Canada you just
provide the name of the insurance company, and your policy number on
line. Just read the warning about providing false information
etc....fines, loss of license, jail time etc.

--
Froz...


The system will be down for 10 days for preventive maintenance.

Swingman wrote:
On 3/18/2010 2:20 AM, Lew Hodgett wrote:
Have to renew my vehicle license plate this month.

California allows you to do this on line.

A few key strokes and you're done.

Glad things have changed.

What, no "proof of insurance", or can you do that online also?

KS, like somebody else mentioned others, you give the info. The
confirmation is not (yet) online but is verified and a summons for court
appearance is issued quite quickly if it isn't in force.

An acquaintance had it bite when a check for the next year's premium
hadn't arrived/yet been credited and the policy was in the 30-day grace
period for a day or so when the confirmation check was done. He got off
w/ no penalty imposed by the judge since was able to show coverage
actually was in place although the system, being asked for coverage
status of the policy to be renewed, gave back a "no" at the instant of
the query. But, the online tag renewal was issued anyway, they caught
up w/ the problem a day or two later and the timing just happened to be
such that it got flagged.

Actually, now that I think of it, that's been a couple years ago; by now
they may have it more near realtime but I'm not sure. What w/ state
budget crunch anything that could be put in abeyance on spending has
been so there's a good chance stuff like this is still on hold or never
got actual appropriations released...

--

On 2010-03-18, Lew Hodgett wrote:

California allows you to do this on line.

A few key strokes and you're done.

A far cry from when I was young back in Ohio.

A far cry from things in CA just few years back. I have horrible
memories of standing in line for ANYTHING at the CA DMV. An hour and
a half --no exageration-- was not uncommon. I actually joined AAA
just to be able to register from their offices rather than endure the
wait, the lines, and the surely clerks that were the norm at CAs
biggest bureaucratic nighmare.

nb

In article , notbob wrote:
On 2010-03-18, Lew Hodgett wrote:

California allows you to do this on line.

A few key strokes and you're done.

A far cry from when I was young back in Ohio.

A far cry from things in CA just few years back. I have horrible
memories of standing in line for ANYTHING at the CA DMV. An hour and
a half --no exageration-- was not uncommon. I actually joined AAA
just to be able to register from their offices rather than endure the
wait, the lines, and the surely clerks that were the norm at CAs
biggest bureaucratic nighmare.

Likewise Indiana -- until a few years ago, if you had to wait *only* an hour
and a half at any urban BMV, you counted yourself lucky. And the offices had
no public restrooms, either. :-(

I remember about 8 years ago visiting the BMV to get plates for a car I'd just
bought. Arrived about 11:30am, took a number. "Now Serving: #72". check my
ticket -- it's #168 Walked across the street to the public library, browsed
for a while, checked out a couple of books, came back to the BMV... "Now
Serving: #113" Walked over to Burger King, had lunch, came back to the BMV
... "Now Serving: #139" ... Sat down to read for a while... Finally got back
to the office around 3pm. The actual transaction took only about ten minutes.

It's a lot better now, though.

On Mar 18, 11:17*am, (Doug Miller) wrote:
In article , notbob wrote:
On 2010-03-18, Lew Hodgett wrote:

California allows you to do this on line.

A few key strokes and you're done.

A far cry from when I was young back in Ohio.

A far cry from things in CA just few years back. *I have horrible
memories of standing in line for ANYTHING at the CA DMV. *An hour and
a half --no exageration-- was not uncommon. *I actually joined AAA
just to be able to register from their offices rather than endure the
wait, the lines, and the surely clerks that were the norm at CAs
biggest bureaucratic nighmare.

Likewise Indiana -- until a few years ago, if you had to wait *only* an hour
and a half at any urban BMV, you counted yourself lucky. And the offices had
no public restrooms, either. :-(

I remember about 8 years ago visiting the BMV to get plates for a car I'd just
bought. Arrived about 11:30am, took a number. "Now Serving: #72". check my
ticket -- it's #168 Walked across the street to the public library, browsed
for a while, checked out a couple of books, came back to the BMV... *"Now
Serving: #113" *Walked over to Burger King, had lunch, came back to the BMV
.. "Now Serving: #139" ... Sat down to read for a while... Finally got back
to the office around 3pm. The actual transaction took only about ten minutes.

It's a lot better now, though.

Doug, let me "add" to the IN BMV tales. Are the BMV offices still
political "plums"? We lived there from late '60 to mid '74, and every
time the state government changed parties, so did the staff at all the
BMV offices! Now you had a whole new staff who didn't know their a**
from their elbow,and you're their OJT guinea pig. Do you still have to
show your property tax reciept in order to get your plates renewed?
Now we all "know" that nobody circumvented that system, but seemed
like there were always some BMV staff members who came home @ night
with more money than they went to work with. Then there were the
random investigations that exposed people driving around while their
property taxes were unpaid.

Don'tcha just love big brother government?

Norm

In article , Nahmie wrote:

Doug, let me "add" to the IN BMV tales. Are the BMV offices still
political "plums"? We lived there from late '60 to mid '74, and every
time the state government changed parties, so did the staff at all the
BMV offices! Now you had a whole new staff who didn't know their a**
from their elbow,and you're their OJT guinea pig.

Not any more. That stopped some time in the late 70s/early 80s IIRC.

Do you still have to
show your property tax reciept in order to get your plates renewed?

I never did. OTOH, I didn't start driving until '75.

Now we all "know" that nobody circumvented that system, but seemed
like there were always some BMV staff members who came home @ night
with more money than they went to work with.

Latest problem is BMV employees taking money under the table in exchange for
fraudulent driver's licenses or state ID cards, from people not
legally entitled to have same [read: illegal immigrants].

(Doug Miller) wrote in
:


Likewise Indiana -- until a few years ago, if you had to wait *only*
an hour and a half at any urban BMV, you counted yourself lucky. And
the offices had no public restrooms, either. :-(


*snip*

Did that once. Don't ever want to do it again. The vehicle registration
room was a big waiting room (bigger than Illinois' whole facility!) and
the whole thing took quite a while. Might as well plan your day around
going to the BMV.

Illinois is really good about this. The whole process, new licenses and
registration took about two hours for 3 people, and only involved waiting
for a short time. Getting a new sticker is easy as can be. You can
renew by mail (no trip to the DMV) or renew at the DMV. Renewal at the
DMV is fast and easy, just show up with the form filled out and get your
sticker. It takes more time to drive there and back then it does to get
the new sticker.

Puckdropper
--
Never teach your apprentice everything you know.