I just had to do it.

[Silver Eagle]

I was sitting behind a state trooper today at a red light ,just waiting for the light to change when I looked down at the license plate.The tags were expired. So as any red blooded Delawaren would do I followed the trooper across Rt 9 to the gas station where she was going to watch traffic. I got out of my truck and walked over to her to let her know that her tags were expired. She rolled down her window some and I told her what I saw. She just smiled and said that she was aware of it. So I got back in my truck and drove away. Now I guess if I ever get stopped by the police One of the first things I'm going to do is check them for happing proper tags right.?I wonder how many cars she stopped today for improper registration. ? ( the Devil made me do it)

[max1]

I was sitting behind a state trooper today at a red light ,just waiting for the light to change when I looked down at the license plate.The tags were expired. So as any red blooded Delawaren would do I followed the trooper across Rt 9 to the gas station where she was going to watch traffic. I got out of my truck and walked over to her to let her know that her tags were expired. She rolled down her window some and I told her what I saw. She just smiled and said that she was aware of it. So I got back in my truck and drove away. Now I guess if I ever get stopped by the police One of the first things I'm going to do is check them for happing proper tags right.?I wonder how many cars she stopped today for improper registration. ? ( the Devil made me do it)

Good for you :-)

[daveindelaware]

I guess sometimes you gotta break the law to enforce it....

[RobForaker]

I was sitting behind a state trooper today at a red light ,just waiting for the light to change when I looked down at the license plate.The tags were expired. So as any red blooded Delawaren would do I followed the trooper across Rt 9 to the gas station where she was going to watch traffic. I got out of my truck and walked over to her to let her know that her tags were expired. She rolled down her window some and I told her what I saw. She just smiled and said that she was aware of it. So I got back in my truck and drove away. Now I guess if I ever get stopped by the police One of the first things I'm going to do is check them for happing proper tags right.?I wonder how many cars she stopped today for improper registration. ? ( the Devil made me do it)

The officer is not at fault...the state is...probably ran your tag also

[Joe Walther]

I guess sometimes you gotta break the law to enforce it....

They're not breaking the law. Delaware Code §2159 - Section 2159 exempts official state vehicles, as well as other vehicles designated as such, from vehicle registration fees. The vehicles still must go through the inspection process, but it occurs on an availability basis (translation: whenever they get around to it).

Delaware State Police vehicles are most certainly counted in this exempt group. However, the police officers, themselves, have nothing to do with the process. They man whichever vehicle as signed to them at whatever time applicable and go about the business of the police.

[Curly]

We've got a few firetrucks that were due last month. Believe me, just because they go through inspection doesn't mean everything is working fine. The rules apply differently for government vehicles.

[Silver Eagle]

They're not breaking the law. Delaware Code §2159 - Section 2159 exempts official state vehicles, as well as other vehicles designated as such, from vehicle registration fees. The vehicles still must go through the inspection process, but it occurs on an availability basis (translation: whenever they get around to it).

Delaware State Police vehicles are most certainly counted in this exempt group. However, the police officers, themselves, have nothing to do with the process. They man whichever vehicle as signed to them at whatever time applicable and go about the business of the police.

Professor, What you say is mostly true, but as a former State employee they also have a maintenance dept. that is in charge of P.M ing the vehicles.Including up to date tags. This patrol cruiser had normal tags not Exempt tags.

[Joe Walther]

Professor, What you say is mostly true, but as a former State employee they also have a maintenance dept. that is in charge of P.M ing the vehicles.Including up to date tags. This patrol cruiser had normal tags not Exempt tags.

Your former employment status notwithstanding, NONE of the state's vehicles have tags that carry the word EXEMPT. The exemption is a legal one found only in the Delaware Code. In fact, I'm not aware of any registration tags that carry the word, "exempt." At least I've never seen one. Some state vehicles carry the word, "STATE," but ALL State police patrol cruisers have regular tags.

And, while the Delaware State Police have maintenance departments in charge of keeping cruisers road-worthy and taking them through inspection, they do it on a time-available basis. This is true of all emergency services vehicles, including fire, and EMT vehicles. As well, it also applies to SOME other non-emergency state agencies.

All of the other state agencies obtain their vehicles from the state carpool and pay a daily rental fee to use them. The nearest one in Northern New Castle County is located on grounds of the Herman M. Holloway, Sr. Health and Human Services Campus located on Rt-13 (1901 North DuPont Highway... to be exact).

ALL of these vehicles have "State" registration tags. And, as in the case of the other state vehicles, they are exempt from registration fees and go through DMV inspection lanes on a time-available basis.

For anyone wishing to do so--don't get arrested doing it, though--you can go through any lot housing state vehicles and find that on any given day, at least 3% of them will have expired tags. It's a fact.

[Joe Walther]

We've got a few firetrucks that were due last month. Believe me, just because they go through inspection doesn't mean everything is working fine. The rules apply differently for government vehicles.

This is because GOVERNMENT, contrary to what the masses have been conned into believing, is not in the business of "protecting" its citizens. Government (federal, state, county, and municipal) is in the business of continually creating new revenue streams while maintaining the ones already on the books in perpetuity.

State-sponsored vehicle inspections, among many others, is a prime example of protecting the MONEY under the guise of public safety. State vehicle registration is a major revenue stream. And, not just in Delaware. But, if anyone thinks that "passing" through DMV's inspection lanes absolutely certifies a vehicle as road-worthy safe, they're, at a minimum, a half a bubble off-plumb.

The fact is that state agency vehicles are exempt from registration fees. Delaware's dedication to ensuring that transportation vehicles are fit to be on the roads is directly proportional to amount of REVENUE they generate through the state coffers.

Essentially, if you own vehicles--including school buses--that are commissioned by the state for state-sponsored business, those vehicles are exempt from registration fees. And, while the state WANTS to "inspect" them routinely in the interests of safety, the implied philosophy, "THERE'S NO REAL RUSH," makes the process look disingenuous at best.

[Robb]

In Pa the police, ems, and fire trucks have unique plates with permanent stickers. Police have blue Municipal plates and Fire/EMS have red Emergency Vehicle plates. The only police vehicles that usually have regular plates are the unmarked vehicles so it looks like they are just a regular vehicle and the Municipal plates don't give them away. Those have regular registration stickers but they probably get some exemption on payment.

[Bellicose]

In Pa the police, ems, and fire trucks have unique plates with permanent stickers. Police have blue Municipal plates and Fire/EMS have red Emergency Vehicle plates. The only police vehicles that usually have regular plates are the unmarked vehicles so it looks like they are just a regular vehicle and the Municipal plates don't give them away. Those have regular registration stickers but they probably get some exemption on payment.

Good to know about the different tags in PA, so now I know what to look for. Unless of course they are undercovers.

Man I miss Jersey because of this. State Police tags start with S, and Municipal tags start with M. Love that, oh and that goes for undercovers too. Unless that has changed. Just good to know when pulling up to a light knowing if its the fuzz or not. In Delaware it is so damn hard to tell, drives me nuts. Especially with all these kids driving old Police Cruisers. Only way to tell on them is the Reeems...lol

[Grin]

In fact, I'm not aware of any registration tags that carry the word, "exempt." At least I've never seen one.

I frequent the Wawa on churchmans road every morning, right by the county yard. Don't know about the cop cars , but the sewer trucks and construction trucks carry tags with the word "exempt".

[Silver Eagle]

The officer is not at fault...the state is...probably ran your tag also

That's ok, I haven't had a ticket in over 50 years. If she did run my tags she would have had to be double jointed the way I cut in front of her while she was parked. I made a left turn away from her while she was facing the other way.

[longnecker]

That's ok, I haven't had a ticket in over 50 years. If she did run my tags she would have had to be double jointed the way I cut in front of her while she was parked. I made a left turn away from her while she was facing the other way.

OK.. How did you see her tag?

[EpicWin]

OK.. How did you see her tag?

Eagle eyes of course. Sorry couldn't resist, LN.

[Bellicose]

Would like to make a correction to my post above, they start with SG or MG.

[LozerBoozer]

One thing that i absolutely LOATHE is going to the DMV. I always get the 2-year renewals, I wish they offered 3 or 4 or even 5 year tags. I'd be all over that.

[hockey]

Joe is correct about DMV being a cash cow for the state. Since the state makes no $$$ off it's own fleet, why would they waste time and money in the lanes getting the entire fleet inspected? Especially since each patrol troop has their own, state paid mechanic who service those cars constantly.

There is also the issue that at the end of the fiscal year, there can be shortages of spare patrol cars due to accidents or breakdowns (many patrol cars run hard for 12 to 24 hours a day) and many have an obscene amount of milage on their engines.

The state doesn't automatically replace those cars so there is a lot of sharing going on until the next batch (if the state budgets for it) is ordered and delivered.

I used to see those old white December inspection stickers lying around the desk at the troop for patrol cars.... given to them by DMV. I'm not sure how they do it these days though.

It seems redundant to me to have the patrol cars go through the inspection lanes.... at least from the states financial and safety points of view.

[Silver Eagle]

[quote=longnecker;316323] OK.. How did you see her tag?[/quote We were stopped at a red light on Memorial Dr and Rt 9 Facing West ave.I was behind her.

[Silver Eagle]

One thing that i absolutely LOATHE is going to the DMV. I always get the 2-year renewals, I wish they offered 3 or 4 or even 5 year tags. I'd be all over that.

You know what they say here in Delaware,99 per cent of the people in Delaware are smart,he other one per cent work for DMV. Isn't that correct Joe.?(watch out for another long winded answer)