Penalties for Stealing Car Registration Tags (VC 4463)
Have you ever considered peeling the registration stickers from the plates on another car and putting them on yours? Maybe you forgot to renew your registration, and you felt like stealing tags would be more convenient. However, the penalties for stealing car registration tags in California far outweigh a ticket or the registration fees.
Stealing Vehicle Registration Tags in California
You might think that taking the registration tags from one vehicle, even if you own that vehicle, and putting them on another car is no big deal. This is actually a crime that carries serious penalties, including expensive fines and jail time.
Under California Vehicle Code Section 4463, it is illegal for you to intentionally forge, alter, falsify, or counterfeit a registration card or registration sticker, or to possess, display, or present one of these fraudulent cards or stickers. If you are charged with violating VC 4463, you could face misdemeanor or felony charges, depending on the facts of your case.
Examples of California Vehicle Code Section 4463 Violations
Some examples of registration issues that are considered illegal under VC 4463 include:
- Stealing the registration tags off one car for another, even if you own both vehicles
- Trying to save money by registering the vehicle with the wrong year or value
- Registering your vehicle outside of California to pay less taxes
- Possessing, displaying, or presenting forged or fake registration tags or cards
Penalties for Stealing Registration Tags
In California, violating VC 4463 can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the circumstances of the case as well as your criminal history. In order to be convicted of vehicle registration fraud, the prosecution must present evidence that you intended to commit the fraud.
If you are convicted of misdemeanor registration tag fraud, you face the following penalties:
- Up to 364 days in county jail;
- Up to a $1,000 fine; or
- Both fine and jail
If you are convicted of felony vehicle registration fraud, you face the following penalties:
- 16 months, 24 months, or 36 months in county jail
- A maximum fine of $10,000; or
- Both fine and jail
Be aware that if the Department of Motor Vehicles believes you have forged any documents or provided false information, your California driver’s license could be revoked or suspended, and the DMV can refuse to issue you a license or renew an expired license.
Call a Criminal Defense Attorney at Wallin & Klarich
If you have been charged with stealing or forging vehicle registration tags in California, call Wallin & Klarich today. Our skilled attorneys have over 40 years of experience successfully defending our clients against vehicle registration fraud charges. We will analyze the facts of your case and plan a defense strategy that will help you get the very best outcome possible in your case.
With offices located in Los Angeles, Sherman Oaks, Torrance, Orange County, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, West Covina and Victorville, there is an experienced Wallin & Klarich criminal defense attorney available to help you no matter where you work or live.
Call us today at (877) 4-NO-JAIL or (877) 466-5425 for a free phone consultation. We will be there when you call.
