Wrongly (?) ticketed for expired inspection sticker

[redweather]

Live in VA, ticketed in DC.

My car's inspection was due FEB 28, 2009, so I went last minute on FEB 27, and had it done. I received a rejection, for needing to replace my windshield wipers. The sticker was posted in the window, and I was told I had 14 days in which to fix and get reinspected. I immediately went out and fixed the wipers, but could not get back to inspection station in time to get reinspected that day. I metro to work, and so didn't drive my car again until the next Saturday, when I went in to DC. While parked there, I got a ticket for "P112 Inspect Fail to Rept. I sent in the paperwork, including my explanation, the rejection sticker that had been in the window, my receipts from the failed and final inspection (done right after I got the ticket - passed). I just received a letter telling me my appeal is denied. I can either pay my fine or appeal again, which involves paying my fine, a $10 application fee, and up to a 2 year wait for decision. Is there anything I can do to influence a positive outcome if I appeal, or am I just throwing an additional $10 down the crooked hole of DC DMV? Please help!What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

[Zigner]

Originally Posted by redweather

Live in VA, ticketed in DC.

My car's inspection was due FEB 28, 2009, so I went last minute on FEB 27, and had it done. I received a rejection, for needing to replace my windshield wipers. The sticker was posted in the window, and I was told I had 14 days in which to fix and get reinspected. I immediately went out and fixed the wipers, but could not get back to inspection station in time to get reinspected that day. I metro to work, and so didn't drive my car again until the next Saturday, when I went in to DC. While parked there, I got a ticket for "P112 Inspect Fail to Rept. I sent in the paperwork, including my explanation, the rejection sticker that had been in the window, my receipts from the failed and final inspection (done right after I got the ticket - passed). I just received a letter telling me my appeal is denied. I can either pay my fine or appeal again, which involves paying my fine, a $10 application fee, and up to a 2 year wait for decision. Is there anything I can do to influence a positive outcome if I appeal, or am I just throwing an additional $10 down the crooked hole of DC DMV? Please help!What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

What crooked hole? This is YOUR fault.

In the future, don't wait for the last minute.

[redweather]

Ouch, OK:
1. Thanks for quick response.
2. Sorry for my knee-jerk reaction, (ie "crooked hole") I'm sure it's entirely possible that DC thinks they are in the right (and I suppose they may be - that's why I'm here, asking for advice), but I feel I'm being soaked, which led to my negative comment.
3. Can you clarify a little bit on your answer, which seems to imply that I was not legally covered at the time I was ticketed? I was told at the time I recieved my rejection sticker, and have subsequently researched the law for VA and DC, that I had 14 days from the issue of the sticker to be able to operate the vehicle (though still responsible for any violation that might occur as a result of not fixing the issues which caused my rejection - in mu case, wiper blades, which is not the subject of the ticket I received, and in fact, had been fixed already, though not reinspected). Are you telling me that my vehicle was not covered by the rejection sticker, and if so, can you please help by pointing me to the source material?

[12345672]

602.7 A vehicle owned by a non-resident and currently registered in another jurisdiction shall display the proper inspection sticker issued for the vehicle in accordance with the requirements of the issuing jurisdiction.

[url=http://os.dc.gov/os/frames.asp?doc=/os/lib/os/info/odai/title_18/chapter_06.pdf]District of Columbia: Office of the Secretary[/url]

If it is legal in Virginia, it should be legal in DC. I'm curious about Zigner's reason for a car that is legal in Virginia being illegal in DC.

[I_Got_Banned]

Originally Posted by 12345672

[url=http://os.dc.gov/os/frames.asp?doc=/os/lib/os/info/odai/title_18/chapter_06.pdf]District of Columbia: Office of the Secretary[/url]

If it is legal in Virginia, it should be legal in DC. I'm curious about Zigner's reason for a car that is legal in Virginia being illegal in DC.

I don't see where Zigner commented as to whether it is legal or not either in VA or in DC!!!

He merely admonished the OP about his waiting until the last minute, literally and figuratively, before taking his/her vehicle in for the inspection.

[12345672]

Originally Posted by I_Got_Banned

I don't see where Zigner commented as to whether it is legal or not either in VA or in DC!!!

He merely admonished the OP about his waiting until the last minute, literally and figuratively, before taking his/her vehicle in for the inspection.

I agree that the OP shouldn't have waited to the last minute, but Zigner's response of "This is YOUR fault." can easily be taken as that he believes the ticket was justified and the car was in violation in DC.

[Zigner]

Originally Posted by 12345672

I agree that the OP shouldn't have waited to the last minute, but Zigner's response of "This is YOUR fault." can easily be taken as that he believes the ticket was justified and the car was in violation in DC.

The situation the OP is in is due to waiting for the last minute. Wasn't commenting on the legality of the cite.

[redweather]

Again, yes, I waited until the last minute, which was clearly not a good idea, however, I'm not asking about that; I'm asking if I was ticketed wrongly, and what course I should take with my appeal. Any help would be appreciated, but let's all agree it's established that I should not have waited until the last minute.

[I_Got_Banned]

Originally Posted by redweather

Again, yes, I waited until the last minute, which was clearly not a good idea, however, I'm not asking about that; I'm asking if I was ticketed wrongly, and what course I should take with my appeal. Any help would be appreciated, but let's all agree it's established that I should not have waited until the last minute.

I concur...

But before we move forward, I would also like to also establish that had you not waited until the last minute, none of this would have probably happened.

Can we all agree to that too?

[redweather]

Well, at least I am getting every cent of the advice I paid for here.....

[I_Got_Banned]

Originally Posted by redweather

Well, at least I am getting every cent of the advice I paid for here.....

That is our guarantee... Everyone walks away from this forum satisfied. Or we insist that a prompt and complete refund is issued!