California: Liability for parking tickets?

[sues60]

What is the name of your state? California. A friend moved here from Oregon in 2005. He couldn't get his truck smogged here so he gave it to a homeless man and his wife to live in. He left the title in the truck and the man promised to register it with the DMV but he never did and my friend didn't know he was supposed to file a notice with Oregon that he no longer owned the vehicle. The man collected several parking tickets which he never paid and finally the truck was towed with the title in it. The man never had the money to get the truck back.

Recently the Collection Dept. of the City of San Diego sent my friend a letter saying he owed $361 for the parking tickets including interest and penalties. My friend wrote them a letter explaining the situation and belatedly filed the notice with Oregon saying that he is transferred ownership on July 1, 1005. He found the man and had him sign it and sent a copy to the city of San Diego. The collection people say that's not enough. They say he has to get the title to the DMV but he has already explained that the title was in the truck when it was towed. The DMV must have the title. We are wondering what happens to the title when a truck with out of state plates is towed and no one claims it.

Even more important, if my friend was stopped for a traffic violation in CA would they arrest him because the parking tickets aren't paid? He really doesn't have the money to pay them right now. Would having the man sign a letter saying he was legally responsible for the parking tickets get my friend off the hook? I would appreciate any suggestions as to how to resolve this.

Sue

[CdwJava]

If the vehicle is still registered in Oregon he'll need to get the appropriate transfer and release of liability info from them. He should also be able to get a duplicate title from OR. In CA he would be able to file a release of liability with the DMV if the vehicle were registered here.

However, he WAS the registered owner when the parking cites were issued, and in CA he will be held accountable for them. If it has gone to collections, it could go to court and ultimately will do great harm to his credit rating.

No, he will not get arrested for this. Parking citations are a civil issue, not a criminal one.

- Carl

[sues60]

Carl, Thanks very much for this info. We greatly appreciate it. Sue