Help: Any Massachusetts Cops on the forum???

Tacojedbob

MAN BEAR PIG
Apr 22, 2007
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I broke a record today with my new LML, and it was everything BUT a fun accomplishment...apologize for the rant/ run-on, I am so heated.

Within 30 hours of buying my LML it got impounded, heres the story: (Note: I am a Wyoming resident, I moved to Boston area a few months ago but hadn't switched over the TAXachusetts because I was not sure how long I was staying and my DL and registration on old truck i sold last week was still current, no more explanation needed)

Purchased the truck yesterday morning (3/30/16) from seller in MA, drove straight to work (In MA) with new truck, signed over clear title, bill of sale, and proof of insurance.

I was told by a Boston officer last week that I was legally allowed to drive the vehicle without plates after purchase for up to 10 days before registering with proper paperwork in vehicle at all times (signed clear title, bill of sale, and proof of insurance) which is also the case for many states, including the state I had planned registering the truck in, BUT...that was not the case according to the Weston, MA cop that pulled me over for no plates, so he says.

Said cop pulls me over and I immediately tell him its a new purchase and I have all required paperwork to be driving vehicle without plates or registration. He looked at me with a blank stare, then told me that was not the case. I explained that I was informed by a Boston officer that that was the "case" so we went back and forth in a polite manner (I was just honestly confused). He then goes back to his car and runs all my info and it all checks out, however while he was in his car he had some fun things prepared for me: $101 citation for driving without registration, and called a tow company to impound the new truck. ($143 towing fee)

So of course Im still baffled since I was following the instructions a Massachusetts officer told me last week, yet I still get f*cked. Not sure who to trust here. Now my truck is sitting in a towing yard and wont be released until its registered or I hire a private towing company to pick up and bring to my house 10 miles away. I had planned on registering the new truck again in Wyoming next week since everything in my name is Wyoming still and you can register by mail and phone with out of state vin inspection since there is no actual vehicle inspection in WY. May have to quickly figure out a NH registration with "residence" at my parents house or actually move there while I'm still alive in the state.

ANYONE HAVE ANY INSIGHT ON THIS??????????? ANY COPS THAT KNOW THE REAL RULES??? At this point I don't know who to trust.
 

dirtydmax

<---up shit creek
Sep 1, 2013
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muskoka,Ont Canada
They make there own rules up as they go it seems.Cop was prob pissed you have a nicer truck than he does.hope you get your new toy back soon and it is a nice looking truck!
 

motoking_1990

Active member
May 9, 2011
1,957
5
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Terre Haute, IN
Wow that's bad luck. Here in IN the vehicle has to have a plate. It can be a 30 day dealer plate. But you are not allowed to drive without a plate. Idk what the laws are in other states, that's just how it is here. Sounds like he was just being a dick. He could've given a warning so you did know.

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Jun 28, 2010
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Sorry to hear this man.. I've lived in mass my whole life.. I've never heard that you can drive with no plates for 10 days. You have 10 days or something like that to get an inspection sticker. Remember there's a lot of people that don't know how to do there jobs. Cops included. Welcome to mass.
 

DuramaxRamRod

Member
Oct 11, 2014
151
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NH
There is a 7 day grace period for vehicles registered in Mass where you can transfer the old plates and registration to a vehicle of the same type. Which is probably what the Boston officer was most likely thinking of. http://www.massrmv.com/rmv/faq/registration.htm#16
If you asked five other LEOs what the laws are, I'd bet you'd get five different answers.:screwy:
 

Chevy1925

don't know sh!t about IFS
Staff member
Oct 21, 2009
21,743
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Phoenix Az
Never heard of any state allowing you to drive without plates, new or used. You need a temp plate and immediate registration if you plan to drive it right away unless your mvd/dmv supply's a perm plate on the spot.

No dealership lets you off the lot without at least a temp plate and here in AZ, you can't even buy a used vehicle and drive it home unless the original owner leaves his plate on the car you bought though he has the right to remove it and keep it. You can and will be pulled over for no plate on the car and then have it towed regardless if you have the title in your hand as you drive home.

Sorry bob but you should have done your homework on MA laws and not just trust what you hear. Conversations and wording can get twisted in these type questions about the law and he officer may have very well misunderstood your question.
 

Tacojedbob

MAN BEAR PIG
Apr 22, 2007
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They make there own rules up as they go it seems.Cop was prob pissed you have a nicer truck than he does.hope you get your new toy back soon and it is a nice looking truck!

It probably didnt help it looks the way it does...I am just baffled, I try to be a law abiding citizen on and off the road, never drive after two beers, never been arrested...and I still get screwed, I am getting to old for this:( If I am not driving it around this weekend I will be beyond pissed.

Wow that's bad luck. Here in IN the vehicle has to have a plate. It can be a 30 day dealer plate. But you are not allowed to drive without a plate. Idk what the laws are in other states, that's just how it is here. Sounds like he was just being a dick. He could've given a warning so you did know.

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I guess I misinterpreted the "laws"...but clearly the onse enforcing them also get confused. Its one of the wealthiest towns in MA, where we are working on a house, clearly he had nothing better to do when he hears and sees my truck rolling past audis and BMWs.

Sorry to hear this man.. I've lived in mass my whole life.. I've never heard that you can drive with no plates for 10 days. You have 10 days or something like that to get an inspection sticker. Remember there's a lot of people that don't know how to do there jobs. Cops included. Welcome to mass.

Hmm, yeah I guess I am just too used to the ways of wyoming...not feeling so welcome, and definitely need to move back west.

There is a 7 day grace period for vehicles registered in Mass where you can transfer the old plates and registration to a vehicle of the same type. Which is probably what the Boston officer was most likely thinking of. http://www.massrmv.com/rmv/faq/registration.htm#16
If you asked five other LEOs what the laws are, I'd bet you'd get five different answers.:screwy:

Yeah and thats what I read as well, which completely confirmed what the the officer last week told me...didnt think twice about driving around without plate and all the appropriate legal paper work...Im gonna start asking cops randomly as soon as I get "legal" just to see what they say. :D
 

Hot COCOAL

May the farce be with you
Jun 9, 2012
4,433
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F**K tha POlice
just pay your fine(s)
By 2 the way....
All his info is public record...
Just sayin
 

Tacojedbob

MAN BEAR PIG
Apr 22, 2007
82
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F**K tha POlice
just pay your fine(s)
By 2 the way....
All his info is public record...
Just sayin

The cops info is all public record?

I'm okay with the $101 citation...it's the $143 tow that peeves me, write me a ticket for me not understanding the laws correctly, but don't burden me with towing fees, make me feel like a bad person, inhibit me from getting to work and give me reason to loose faith in law enforcements discretion to use their power correctly. I respect them when they are doing good things for society as they do most the time, but this was a move out of spite...and I was polite the whole time. Give respect, get respect...
 

Hot COCOAL

May the farce be with you
Jun 9, 2012
4,433
0
0
The cops info is all public record?
YUP
It is in Washington state...

I'm okay with the $101 citation...it's the $143 tow that peeves me, write me a ticket for me not understanding the laws correctly, but don't burden me with towing fees, make me feel like a bad person, inhibit me from getting to work and give me reason to loose faith in law enforcements discretion to use their power correctly. I respect them when they are doing good things for society as they do most the time, but this was a move out of spite...and I was polite the whole time. Give respect, get respect...

YUP
I'm with ya 110%
Just like everything else tho...
It's the few that ruin it for the masses
 

SteveLBZ06

New member
Jan 6, 2013
200
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Central MA
MA can be a pain like that however without being registered, I assume it wasn't insured either and the way people drive around here I wouldn't want to take a chance like that. Also for one reason or another MA won't give out or honor temporary plates.

He had to tow the truck unfortunately because it's his job to ensure an unregistered uninsured vehicle is not in the road. Giving you a ticket and letting you go wouldnt solve anything, the truck is still unregistered and another cop could pull you over 10 feet down the road for the same thing.

Beautiful truck tho on the bright side. Good luck
 

Tacojedbob

MAN BEAR PIG
Apr 22, 2007
82
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MA can be a pain like that however without being registered, I assume it wasn't insured either and the way people drive around here I wouldn't want to take a chance like that. Also for one reason or another MA won't give out or honor temporary plates.

He had to tow the truck unfortunately because it's his job to ensure an unregistered uninsured vehicle is not in the road. Giving you a ticket and letting you go wouldnt solve anything, the truck is still unregistered and another cop could pull you over 10 feet down the road for the same thing.

Beautiful truck tho on the bright side. Good luck

It was fully insured, with a very good policy as I do with all my vehicles, I would never drive a car without insurance...plate on the other hand, don't mean much, except for catching you doing something on camera that's the only reason why you actually need a plate, otherwise just pull me over to verify its a new purchase! It's not harming another civilian by not having a plate, just a red flag for a cop, so pull me over, check my information and let me be on my way...as long as I register within the 7-10 day "grace" period. It's so dumb

And thanks! It's just what I was looking for
 

dirtydmax

<---up shit creek
Sep 1, 2013
1,091
4
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muskoka,Ont Canada
It will be cheaper to hire a private truck and have it towed out ov there asap than pay storage fees...Those fees can be whatever the tow company wants per day and add up real quick depending on indoor or outdoor storage.we charge $150-200 indoor and $75-150 outdoor...per day its there
 

NC-smokinlmm

<<<Future tuna killer
May 29, 2011
5,214
364
83
At Da Beach
No offense but, ignorance of the law isn't an excuse. You made a mistake and the officer was just doing his job. Learn from it and move forward from there, and I don't believe there is a state in our union that allows you to operate a vehicle with no plate for any length of time, it would be hard to tax vehicles properly...
 

Porno Joe

Member
Oct 11, 2010
513
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16
South of Pittsburgh
depending on how many months you have been there without getting a mass license, you should be glad he didn't write you a fine for that too. (i think the law is 90 days)
 

six5creed

Member
Jan 6, 2016
1,046
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N.C.
Think about this......how many vehicles have you ever seen without a plate on them? Only a handful and they are usually leaving a drug house.