Bogus bust
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Elder User
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From: socal
Bogus bust
Just a quick post to tell you what happened to a friend of mine last week. He bought a 1970 F600(?) from his work with a cool old service body on it and registered it as a historical vehicle here in CA. It was a former Bell telephone truck and he is restoring it as such. He was taking a bunch of parts he collected to get powder coated, one was a bare rear axle housing, when he was stopped by a city cop who wrote him for non historical use of some sort, he had to see a judge. So the court date came up he went, the cop showed and he lost had to pay back commercial registration for six months and was fined. I don't know the totals yet but the fine was $1,200 he has spoken to a lawyer who says he can appeal the fine and the verdict. He gets to keep his historical reg. though that's the ironic part. What a mess, any cool cop would see he was not hauling commercially just chasing parts in his old truck even the CHP officer in court for something else could not believe the ticket, said that would have been a good time to excersise some officer discretion, but he got the shaft so be careful what you are hauling in a historic vehicle.
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From: Long Island USA
The problem with some of these things is that even when it's obvious it was unwarranted, the judge won't dismiss it because it opens the door to a whole bunch of other people saying the same thing.
On the other hand, the guy is hauling parts - big parts. That he couldn't do without that truck. So was it really "historical" use?
Either way, a crappy deal.
On the other hand, the guy is hauling parts - big parts. That he couldn't do without that truck. So was it really "historical" use?
Either way, a crappy deal.
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Elder User
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From: socal
The Atty he has hired said it is excessive and showed him some case history and claimed he will without a doubt get it reduced to a few hundred dollars and drop the back commercial registration. I have not read the historical vehicle guidelines but I am told you are allowed to drive anywhere any time but less than 1500 miles a year, others say to and from parades, historical events, shows, only. My buddy later admitted to being a smart *** to the cop and judge so there ya go, ask for the book to be thrown at ya and you will get it. It is inexpensive to register historic vehicles here in CA and I think my buddy was abusing it regularly his reason is the insurance for the commercial truck was way too much where for the historic it was $250 year.
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Elder User
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From: socal
Could not tell you but there are several "export only" dealers, mostly in Florida that have a steady supply of trucks and knowledge of shipping them, start by searching for them.
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Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Back in those days, CA did not require Commercial Plates on F100/350's, but F500 and larger trucks required them.
Today, it's a different story as the only way you can get non Commercial Plates...is if the truck has a permanent: Camper Shell, Slide-In Camper, or the type mounted directly to the frame (without a bed) rails.
When the person received the historical plates, they were most likely not designated as Commercial Plates because the cluck at the CA DMV or AAA office that issued them was asleep at the switch.
Confused? Don't feel like the Lone Ranger.
I have DP (handicap) plates on my 2008 Fusion. When I first applied for them, they were first used on a 2000 Lexus, but...
When I bought several pickups and transfered the DP plates to them, the plates became Commercial Plates.
In other words, you can have historical plates on your trucks, but without a permanent Camper, they have to be designated as Commercial Plates.
Today, it's a different story as the only way you can get non Commercial Plates...is if the truck has a permanent: Camper Shell, Slide-In Camper, or the type mounted directly to the frame (without a bed) rails.
When the person received the historical plates, they were most likely not designated as Commercial Plates because the cluck at the CA DMV or AAA office that issued them was asleep at the switch.
Confused? Don't feel like the Lone Ranger.
I have DP (handicap) plates on my 2008 Fusion. When I first applied for them, they were first used on a 2000 Lexus, but...
When I bought several pickups and transfered the DP plates to them, the plates became Commercial Plates.
In other words, you can have historical plates on your trucks, but without a permanent Camper, they have to be designated as Commercial Plates.
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From: Morgan Hill Ca
I few years ago I had a 65 Kenworth 2axle flat bed reg. with historic plates. While driving home from a ATHS truck show in Fontana Ca.
I was pulled over by the CHP comm. enforcement officer in Ventura co.
and was told that I could not have anything on the back of my truck PERIOD! otherwise it was a $2K ticket.
I sold the Kenworth but I still have a 56 f600 with historic plates.
In Calif. there is no such thing as a commercial historic plate. I checked with the DMV to see if I could get commercial plates so I could legally haul some firewood for my personal use. The only way was to turn in the historic plates. The reg. fees would go from $75 to $350+
I was pulled over by the CHP comm. enforcement officer in Ventura co.
and was told that I could not have anything on the back of my truck PERIOD! otherwise it was a $2K ticket.
I sold the Kenworth but I still have a 56 f600 with historic plates.
In Calif. there is no such thing as a commercial historic plate. I checked with the DMV to see if I could get commercial plates so I could legally haul some firewood for my personal use. The only way was to turn in the historic plates. The reg. fees would go from $75 to $350+
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