Good deal, Jim
Congrats!
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Good deal, Jim
Congrats!
Congrats!
I registered my SAS coupe with Cal DMV yesterday morning, Jan. 3, the first business day of 2012. I had done LOTS of research in the preceding year on the procedure, and came with what should have been all the right docs: Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin, Invoices for all major parts (engine, tranny), Application for Registration, and Statement of Construction.
I had an 8:00 a.m. appointment. The clerk was courteous, but informed me that Cal DMV would not register ANY vehicle unless it was 100% complete. I knew from my research that this was not true, so, after a few minutes of questions and answers, politely asked if I could speak to her supervisor.
Branch manager was also polite, and repeated what the clerk had said. They could not even call Sacramento to obtain one of the 500 Certificate of Sequence numbers, unless the car was complete. I told her that my research indicated that many vehicles were registered with the SB100 process prior to completion. She was adamant that I was wrong. I asked her if there was a policy change for 2012, and she replied that there was no policy change, the policy had been in effect for 3 years now.
I asked her if I had any options available. She said that she would take my phone number, make a couple of calls, and if she found out any information that indicated I was correct, she would call me.
When I returned to my son's house, he told me it must be my lucky day, since the manager at DMV had called to say there had been a change in DMV policy, and I can now register the car before completion. Please return to the DMV office and we will process your registration.
I returned and sailed through the process. What I received is DMV's hand-written note of an award of a Certificate of Sequence number. The actual number itself, somewhere between 1 and 500, will arrive by mail in 2-3 weeks. This is consistent with information I have received from the various web sites that replica owners use to post registration info, mainly the Cobra replica sites.
Lesson learned: For much of my life, I have not been the most effective person at interpersonal relations. (My wife of 44 years would be rolling her eyes at how innocent that statement sounds.) I was determined NOT to go postal. I found that the advice I had been given to keep your cool, be pro-active and co-operative, was all good. Patience and a cool head led me to a successful conclusion. When I left DMV earlier in the day, after having been turned down, I actually thanked them for their time. Maybe this old bull can go into a china shop after all.
I had an 8:00 a.m. appointment. The clerk was courteous, but informed me that Cal DMV would not register ANY vehicle unless it was 100% complete. I knew from my research that this was not true, so, after a few minutes of questions and answers, politely asked if I could speak to her supervisor.
Branch manager was also polite, and repeated what the clerk had said. They could not even call Sacramento to obtain one of the 500 Certificate of Sequence numbers, unless the car was complete. I told her that my research indicated that many vehicles were registered with the SB100 process prior to completion. She was adamant that I was wrong. I asked her if there was a policy change for 2012, and she replied that there was no policy change, the policy had been in effect for 3 years now.
I asked her if I had any options available. She said that she would take my phone number, make a couple of calls, and if she found out any information that indicated I was correct, she would call me.
When I returned to my son's house, he told me it must be my lucky day, since the manager at DMV had called to say there had been a change in DMV policy, and I can now register the car before completion. Please return to the DMV office and we will process your registration.
I returned and sailed through the process. What I received is DMV's hand-written note of an award of a Certificate of Sequence number. The actual number itself, somewhere between 1 and 500, will arrive by mail in 2-3 weeks. This is consistent with information I have received from the various web sites that replica owners use to post registration info, mainly the Cobra replica sites.
Lesson learned: For much of my life, I have not been the most effective person at interpersonal relations. (My wife of 44 years would be rolling her eyes at how innocent that statement sounds.) I was determined NOT to go postal. I found that the advice I had been given to keep your cool, be pro-active and co-operative, was all good. Patience and a cool head led me to a successful conclusion. When I left DMV earlier in the day, after having been turned down, I actually thanked them for their time. Maybe this old bull can go into a china shop after all.
Terrific ! ! I love hearing stories like this, good for you.
"Maybe this old bull can go into a china shop after all. "
I tend to bust up the place just looking in the window, maybe I can take a page from your play book. Hope so.
"Maybe this old bull can go into a china shop after all. "
I tend to bust up the place just looking in the window, maybe I can take a page from your play book. Hope so.
dont u just love the DMV, right up there with the proctologist.
The DMV is odd on more levels than you can list.
"When I left DMV earlier in the day, after having been turned down, I actually thanked them for their time."
Isn't that something like the Stockholm Syndrome ?
"When I left DMV earlier in the day, after having been turned down, I actually thanked them for their time."
Isn't that something like the Stockholm Syndrome ?
No TC, that is called tact. Kinda like saying "That's a nice looking Cobra" when you know it's something you wouldn't want to be seen in. Chances are if he acted otherwise, the supervisor would have said "screw him".
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Isn't that a sad state of affairs, though. A government office, an important one at that, staffed by people who aren't aware of or willing to look something up the first time around, and still garner a thank you at the end of their display of stupidity. AND they're praised here for doing their damned job after the fact and actually following through on something that should have been done in the fuckin' first place.
Like Firemen arriving at the blaze, not smelling smoke, going home, and calling you later to let you know that your were right, your house IS on fire, they can see the flames now and are gonna shoot right over and try to put it out.
Thanking those fools is like tipping your hat to the feudal land owner and thanking him for raising your rent and taking another third of your livestock in the process. The sad truth is that there was no other way of going about it. Anger, a reasonable request, or insistent rebuttal would have fallen on hostile dead ears.
Come ON ! ! It's 2012, time for a change. I mean really. The DMV has been this way for like a half century for shit's sake . . . WTF ! ? ! ? ! ? ! ? ! ?
I wonder why it is that you NEVER actually run into a DMV employee at a gathering/party/etc. or at least nobody ever admits to being one.
I've never met a single one in my entire life.
Like Firemen arriving at the blaze, not smelling smoke, going home, and calling you later to let you know that your were right, your house IS on fire, they can see the flames now and are gonna shoot right over and try to put it out.
Thanking those fools is like tipping your hat to the feudal land owner and thanking him for raising your rent and taking another third of your livestock in the process. The sad truth is that there was no other way of going about it. Anger, a reasonable request, or insistent rebuttal would have fallen on hostile dead ears.
Come ON ! ! It's 2012, time for a change. I mean really. The DMV has been this way for like a half century for shit's sake . . . WTF ! ? ! ? ! ? ! ? ! ?
I wonder why it is that you NEVER actually run into a DMV employee at a gathering/party/etc. or at least nobody ever admits to being one.
I've never met a single one in my entire life.
Congratulations Jim! This is a far cry for the experience of others in the past trying to register a car in CA under SB100. The other good news is that once they go through the process, maybe the next time that office of the CA DMV will know what to do.
This is certainly not a condition unique to the CA DMV and likely pervades every large organization on the planet. Sometimes politeness works. The fact that Jim knew he was correct in his approach gives one the confidence to go forth without being too concerned about the ultimate outcome.
The CA SB100 czar is probably the most rational guy you would ever want to talk to. It would not surprise me if he would intervene directly if contacted. Fortunately, DMV seemed to recognize the error of their ways and respond accordingly.
This is certainly not a condition unique to the CA DMV and likely pervades every large organization on the planet. Sometimes politeness works. The fact that Jim knew he was correct in his approach gives one the confidence to go forth without being too concerned about the ultimate outcome.
The CA SB100 czar is probably the most rational guy you would ever want to talk to. It would not surprise me if he would intervene directly if contacted. Fortunately, DMV seemed to recognize the error of their ways and respond accordingly.
Jim, that's outstanding. Like TC, I'm not one for diplomacy among the uninformed. As often as I get things wrong, though, I generally bite the bullet and walk away. Once or twice, I've done stupid things on no notice.
Luckily, the People's Republic of Maryland has a 'Street Rod' category for those of us with replicas. I've never had a problem I couldn't handle, either registering or bypassing the inspections.
My question is, where are you going to drive it? Fiji, or will it be the car you drive while visiting folks in the continental US? I'd think a Subaru-powered canoe might be a more useful vehicle for you!
Luckily, the People's Republic of Maryland has a 'Street Rod' category for those of us with replicas. I've never had a problem I couldn't handle, either registering or bypassing the inspections.
My question is, where are you going to drive it? Fiji, or will it be the car you drive while visiting folks in the continental US? I'd think a Subaru-powered canoe might be a more useful vehicle for you!
Cory,
The car will stay in Santa Cruz, CA at our son's house. I am determined to start spending more time in CA with our son, daughter in law, and grandkids. The car will give me a gentle shove in that direction. One of these days . . .
Charles,
Maybe there's hope for an incorrigible reprobate after all. If I can get it done, anyone can. BTW, DMV employees aren't familiar with the term "SB100", the underlying legislation that authorized the procedure. They call it a "Certificate of Sequence".
The car will stay in Santa Cruz, CA at our son's house. I am determined to start spending more time in CA with our son, daughter in law, and grandkids. The car will give me a gentle shove in that direction. One of these days . . .
Charles,
Maybe there's hope for an incorrigible reprobate after all. If I can get it done, anyone can. BTW, DMV employees aren't familiar with the term "SB100", the underlying legislation that authorized the procedure. They call it a "Certificate of Sequence".
Jim,
I am sure you know there was no change in policy on registration prior to vehicle completion. I have registered two cars using SB100 and know several others that have registered their cars at the start of their car's build.
What happened at your DMV was not a change of policy, but, someone got schooled in the proper procedure.
Congrats on the new car and being able to keep a clear and calm head. At DMV that can be a difficult task!
I am sure you know there was no change in policy on registration prior to vehicle completion. I have registered two cars using SB100 and know several others that have registered their cars at the start of their car's build.
What happened at your DMV was not a change of policy, but, someone got schooled in the proper procedure.
Congrats on the new car and being able to keep a clear and calm head. At DMV that can be a difficult task!
Dale, Yes, I was very aware of the fact that the DMV manager was not capable of copping to the truth, i.e., that she and her employees had it wrong, and that I was right. Before I left the first time, I even asked her if the registration policy had changed for 2012. She replied that she was very experienced, and the same policy had been in place for about 3 years.
However, when I returned, it wouldn't have served any useful purpose to grind on her, so I didn't even mention it. I was pumped that they called me back in. Maybe my actions will leave a positive impression on her, and the next guy who tries to register under SB100 will have it a little easier.
Much like the cop on the beat, the law is what the manager of the DMV office says it is. I had actually returned to my son's house after my first DMV visit to map out the route to the Santa Clara office, where I had read that DMV had knowledgeable personnel. The phone call saved me from making the extra trip and starting over.
However, when I returned, it wouldn't have served any useful purpose to grind on her, so I didn't even mention it. I was pumped that they called me back in. Maybe my actions will leave a positive impression on her, and the next guy who tries to register under SB100 will have it a little easier.
Much like the cop on the beat, the law is what the manager of the DMV office says it is. I had actually returned to my son's house after my first DMV visit to map out the route to the Santa Clara office, where I had read that DMV had knowledgeable personnel. The phone call saved me from making the extra trip and starting over.
Part of the reason I Lurked for a while and bought a pan-based car was to avoid the idiots at the California DMV. BTW, I have an 11AM appointment tomorrow which better be easier than an SB visit. Anyone looking for TONS more information can cross-reference usa7s.com and californiacaterhamclub.com. I just never found a properly registered car that I fit in for the right price with the right options, that didn;t sell before I could get to it. Those 7s are insane though, performance-wise.
TC-
I've found that ragging on somebody to be smarter or harder working is usually like telling my cat to sit. I may as well be speaking another language.
As you alluded, ending up at the DMV is nobody's life-goal. If they could be doing something else, they probably would be. Regardless, dealing with 20 DUI/no insurance/driving-on-a-revoked-license illiterates per hour would grind the sharp edge off almost any knife.
It's like dealing with a cop. He might be an idiot with an attitude-- but he's out at 11 PM, stopping people that just might have a sawed-off-shotgun under the seat. It probably isn't what he laid awake at night dreaming about as a kid, either. Calling him a "pig" isn't going to help him see the error of his ways.
We've got SEMA registration in Illinois. There's nobody in any office that knows anything about it. What I did was to go to the website, print out the information, get a phone number off the paperwork, go to a quiet DMV office, tell the clerk what I wanted to do, called the number at the state capitol on my cell, give the phone to the clerk, and let them speak to each other in "DMV". I was prepared. I was polite but persistent. I was in and out in 30 minutes. I did the job for them, but I got what I wanted.
Jim got what he was after, and he didn't have to crawl or bribe anybody. That's just about as much as anybody's ever been able to ask of any bureaucracy in any culture at any time in history.
I've found that ragging on somebody to be smarter or harder working is usually like telling my cat to sit. I may as well be speaking another language.
As you alluded, ending up at the DMV is nobody's life-goal. If they could be doing something else, they probably would be. Regardless, dealing with 20 DUI/no insurance/driving-on-a-revoked-license illiterates per hour would grind the sharp edge off almost any knife.
It's like dealing with a cop. He might be an idiot with an attitude-- but he's out at 11 PM, stopping people that just might have a sawed-off-shotgun under the seat. It probably isn't what he laid awake at night dreaming about as a kid, either. Calling him a "pig" isn't going to help him see the error of his ways.
We've got SEMA registration in Illinois. There's nobody in any office that knows anything about it. What I did was to go to the website, print out the information, get a phone number off the paperwork, go to a quiet DMV office, tell the clerk what I wanted to do, called the number at the state capitol on my cell, give the phone to the clerk, and let them speak to each other in "DMV". I was prepared. I was polite but persistent. I was in and out in 30 minutes. I did the job for them, but I got what I wanted.
Jim got what he was after, and he didn't have to crawl or bribe anybody. That's just about as much as anybody's ever been able to ask of any bureaucracy in any culture at any time in history.
Well said, Stan....a smile and a calm voice go a long way with people who are dealing with many morons per hour. If you have your ducks in a row and know what you're talking about you can get them to do their jobs. They would rather deal with you for a few extra min. than take the next moron in line.
Stan,
You are a MUCH better man than I ! ! !
Honestly, I'm just a stupid brat with a bad attitude in an old man's body.
Still . . . (there's ALWAYS a still) this has been going on since I was born, isn't it time for a change ? ! ? ! ? I mean, come ON. They get paid a good wage in a time when many are out of work. Might be refreshing to have the DMV run right, wouldn't it?
It's like they only hire relatives of those already working there, "Here Honey, sit down and let Momma tell you how this scam works . . . "
I just don't like having to suck the dick that just fucked me over.
It's one of those internal questions that I often ask, "Can I live with this? If the answer comes up no, I go off like a bomb. If yes, then that's it, live with it and shut up. More often than not is "no."
"I don't suffer fools gladly." One of Paul's more sarcastic lectures.
TC
You are a MUCH better man than I ! ! !
Honestly, I'm just a stupid brat with a bad attitude in an old man's body.
Still . . . (there's ALWAYS a still) this has been going on since I was born, isn't it time for a change ? ! ? ! ? I mean, come ON. They get paid a good wage in a time when many are out of work. Might be refreshing to have the DMV run right, wouldn't it?
It's like they only hire relatives of those already working there, "Here Honey, sit down and let Momma tell you how this scam works . . . "
I just don't like having to suck the dick that just fucked me over.
It's one of those internal questions that I often ask, "Can I live with this? If the answer comes up no, I go off like a bomb. If yes, then that's it, live with it and shut up. More often than not is "no."
"I don't suffer fools gladly." One of Paul's more sarcastic lectures.
TC