UK player confused by US laws.

[EssBee]

Hi all,

As stated above, I'm from the UK and as such am struggling to get my head around some of the US laws regarding car registrations and insurance dates and such.

Over here, if anything is out of date by even a day then it's regarded as a criminal offence to use a car related to these documents/dates to be used on a public road, and you're liable for prosecution if you do so.
However, in the game here it seems that the dates on registration plates, and drivers insurance cards etc can be out of date by 6 months or more and still be legal.
How can this be?

I mean, surely, it's either in date or it's not.
How can it be 6-12 months overdue and still be legal?
It just doesn't make any sense to me.
Why have a date if it's not enforceable?
Makes the whole thing kinda pointless really.

I couldn't see anything in the handbook detailing how this all works, and it's kinda making my head spin trying to figure it out.

If someone could help shed a little light on this one for me it would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks in advance.
Confused foreigner! ;D

[StOnEdSmUrFz]

HAHA yeah no idea, Australia here. Pretty much the same. you aren't driving away uninsured/registerd. In the game you can just give them a fine or warning which counts as doing your job, not sure about real life america tho.

[JR]

Never had a problem with the ticketing of expired anything, I'm betting the date order is messing you all up.

[EssBee]

I do stop and take time to think about the date order and take that in to consideration but even then, if something has an expiry year of 2019 at the start of the game then it's at least 5 moths out of date at that point since you seem to start in (I think it was) 05/May 2020.
In that case the MM/DD format (or DD/MM as it is over here) doesn't matter as it's the year at that point that is wrong, not just the day/month.

That's what I don't understand.
Why if the plate, insurance, or ID has an expiry if 2019, why is it still valid and legal in 2020?
It makes no sense in my mind.
Kinda makes a mockery of the whole system and essentially makes the expiry date irrelevant.

So that's why I was after someone in the know who can actually explain the system to me and fill me in on any potential overlap/grace-time between expiry and definitive required renewal date, 'cos to me it makes no sense at all right now.

[TheCowMoo]

If the plate, ID, or insurance is expired, than they can be given a ticket. I also believe that sometimes the officer will not let them continue driving, however that is not a feature in the game. Also, I live in the US, so try to be a bit nicer please.

[EssBee]

Sorry. I didn't mean to offend anyone.
I have several online friends in the US who are used to my sense of humour. I guess I just kinda took it for granted after several years.
I do apologise.

Anyway, I think I kinda realised it seems to be a bit of an in-game bug sometimes.

I was just in a patrol car and pulled up at some lights behind a taxi and did a focus/plate check. It returned a verdict of the plate being expired, but when I pulled the car over and checked the plate close up it said Oct 2020. The in game date was something like 23rd May 2020.
The police computer also showed both ID and Plate being out of date, but the plate itself was fine with three months still to run on it before it expired.
So that plate in theory should have been fine, but their ID card was deffo out of date returning a date in 2019 when I checked it.
I still gave a ticket for both and then nabbed them for alcohol DUI too at 10% or thereabouts after getting a popup that their speech was slurring.

So yeah, there's something not quite right with the dates in-game at times. That's probably added to the confusion.

Anyway, kinda getting my head around it all now, helped examples like the one above.

I'm sure it'll all get ironed out eventually. It's all part of the fun of EA.
Now I know it's kinda quirky it's a little easier to work with.

[Mini The Short]

UK we use DD/MM/ U.S uses MM/DD Which im aware of and still it throws me now and then "aaah ha expir..... Oh nope thats a day, haha yeah we dont have 13 month im le dumb haha" I'm glad I stayed in mass for 2 months visiting friends there so I got use to some laws and formats.... then I ticket a car for parking the "wrong way" when it was not the wrong way because.....we drive on the left and not the right haha. I love how this game gets me in a way. 90% when i get CP its because my brain is not thinking "US system/formats"

[EssBee]

Must admit, I have found myself getting in to the right hand seat and wondering why I can't turn the lights off or go anywhere etc... then I realise the drivers seat is on the other side! :D

[TheCowMoo]

I have found the same issue sometimes, and it seems the computer is right.

[BatWingSix]

Messaggio originale di Steph:

Hi all,

As stated above, I'm from the UK and as such am struggling to get my head around some of the US laws regarding car registrations and insurance dates and such.

Over here, if anything is out of date by even a day then it's regarded as a criminal offence to use a car related to these documents/dates to be used on a public road, and you're liable for prosecution if you do so.
However, in the game here it seems that the dates on registration plates, and drivers insurance cards etc can be out of date by 6 months or more and still be legal.
How can this be?

I mean, surely, it's either in date or it's not.
How can it be 6-12 months overdue and still be legal?
It just doesn't make any sense to me.
Why have a date if it's not enforceable?
Makes the whole thing kinda pointless really.

I couldn't see anything in the handbook detailing how this all works, and it's kinda making my head spin trying to figure it out.

If someone could help shed a little light on this one for me it would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks in advance.
Confused foreigner! ;D

1 day out of date is illegal here in the states, not having an up to date (but still insured) card is a citation. Not having visible tags is illegal (in most states, some give a pass if the officer is having a good day). They have a good premise but they didn't do the proper research before hand. I noticed they are looking for real LEO backgrounds here in the US now for advice but they will be running into the problem of each state having its own laws, not to mention county (or perish depending on where in the country you are), city and village will have its own statutes.

[EssBee]

Messaggio originale di BatWingSix:

Messaggio originale di Steph:

Hi all,

As stated above, I'm from the UK and as such am struggling to get my head around some of the US laws regarding car registrations and insurance dates and such.

Over here, if anything is out of date by even a day then it's regarded as a criminal offence to use a car related to these documents/dates to be used on a public road, and you're liable for prosecution if you do so.
However, in the game here it seems that the dates on registration plates, and drivers insurance cards etc can be out of date by 6 months or more and still be legal.
How can this be?

I mean, surely, it's either in date or it's not.
How can it be 6-12 months overdue and still be legal?
It just doesn't make any sense to me.
Why have a date if it's not enforceable?
Makes the whole thing kinda pointless really.

I couldn't see anything in the handbook detailing how this all works, and it's kinda making my head spin trying to figure it out.

If someone could help shed a little light on this one for me it would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks in advance.
Confused foreigner! ;D

1 day out of date is illegal here in the states, not having an up to date (but still insured) card is a citation. Not having visible tags is illegal (in most states, some give a pass if the officer is having a good day). They have a good premise but they didn't do the proper research before hand. I noticed they are looking for real LEO backgrounds here in the US now for advice but they will be running into the problem of each state having its own laws, not to mention county (or perish depending on where in the country you are), city and village will have its own statutes.

Thanks for trying to help clear that one up for me.
One quick question though. You mention'tags'. Is that what you refer to the dates on plates as? ie date 'tags'?
I'm assuming it probably is, but just wanted to check.

I think that part of the problem with foreigners not knowing where to start with the laws over there is just as you say, lots of states having their own laws with seemingly very little in common right across the country.
At least, for the most part, (as far as I'm aware) the UK is consistent with it's laws right across the board despite us actually being divided in to four entirely different countries. (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.)
It makes life so much easier.

All of that aside though, I have also found out since first posting on this subject that it's not just that the laws seem a little strange, there is also some inconsistencies within the game itself with the dates on the plates not always matching up with what the police computer is telling us.
Now I've figured out that part of it is down to game/coding errors it all makes a little more sense, and is now easier to deal with.
It doesn't always happen. It seems to be kinda random and intermittent. Luck of the draw, if you will.
I've found that if there are discrepancies then following what the computer says rather than always going by what the cards/plates say usually stops you taking a hit to your score. Others have also backed this theory up too now, so that's what I'm sticking to for the time being.
I've no doubt it'll all get ironed out eventually. It's just confusing as hell for new players, especially non-US native players.
Hopefully some of them will see this thread and it'll help clear some of the confusion up for them too.

[Non Toxic Noob]

"Thanks for trying to help clear that one up for me.
One quick question though. You mention'tags'. Is that what you refer to the dates on plates as? ie date 'tags'?
I'm assuming it probably is, but just wanted to check."

Hi there.

We call a license plate a "tag". The registration stickers is what has the date on it. Some states (like mine) no longer use the stickers. Not sure why, I guess its because people used to cut them off peoples' tag. Yeah they really do this. We also have inspection and Emissions stickers. There are all kinds of things you can get a ticket for.

[BatWingSix]

Messaggio originale di Steph:

Messaggio originale di BatWingSix:

1 day out of date is illegal here in the states, not having an up to date (but still insured) card is a citation. Not having visible tags is illegal (in most states, some give a pass if the officer is having a good day). They have a good premise but they didn't do the proper research before hand. I noticed they are looking for real LEO backgrounds here in the US now for advice but they will be running into the problem of each state having its own laws, not to mention county (or perish depending on where in the country you are), city and village will have its own statutes.

Thanks for trying to help clear that one up for me.
One quick question though. You mention'tags'. Is that what you refer to the dates on plates as? ie date 'tags'?
I'm assuming it probably is, but just wanted to check.

I think that part of the problem with foreigners not knowing where to start with the laws over there is just as you say, lots of states having their own laws with seemingly very little in common right across the country.
At least, for the most part, (as far as I'm aware) the UK is consistent with it's laws right across the board despite us actually being divided in to four entirely different countries. (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.)
It makes life so much easier.

All of that aside though, I have also found out since first posting on this subject that it's not just that the laws seem a little strange, there is also some inconsistencies within the game itself with the dates on the plates not always matching up with what the police computer is telling us.
Now I've figured out that part of it is down to game/coding errors it all makes a little more sense, and is now easier to deal with.
It doesn't always happen. It seems to be kinda random and intermittent. Luck of the draw, if you will.
I've found that if there are discrepancies then following what the computer says rather than always going by what the cards/plates say usually stops you taking a hit to your score. Others have also backed this theory up too now, so that's what I'm sticking to for the time being.
I've no doubt it'll all get ironed out eventually. It's just confusing as hell for new players, especially non-US native players.
Hopefully some of them will see this thread and it'll help clear some of the confusion up for them too.

Tags are what we call License plates for vehicles. They use colored tag stickers to indicate year of expiration (except some which are permanent but only for trailers and such), and some states are going all digital with the registration doing away with the tags. So far as laws across the nation go most are standard everywhere, it is how they are written that leads to issues. In one state, 'Creating a disturbance' is defined as one thing, where as in another state it is defined as something else. One city may have that law on their books with definitive identification of what would warrant a legal arrest to be made per that law as it is written where as another state leaves it so vague that an officer can use it to either be too harsh or lenient situation depending. Sorry for the late response, don't really toy around in this forum much.

On that note, some laws are still in the books which are so out of date they are laughable. The Sheriffs Dept i worked for still showed (and it was accurate) that profane language was a misdemeanor and a $10 fine. Spitting on the sidewalk was also a misdemeanor and a $5 fine... We didn't enforce them because I would lose 4 paychecks in a week with my language sometimes, but they were still actively enforceable laws.

[thelamaknows]

It depends on the risk vs reward. For example I drove 11 months on expired tags in Colorado and only got caught by sheer bad luck. The fine was four dollars more than the cost to register the truck for the year. So in that situation I just didn't care.
In NH there is an inspection for vehicles, but you can get a new registration each year automatically from the state without having to show a current inspection. Registration and inspection are both mandated by the state, but handled separately at the consumer end. So I had a hand build, mostly illegal Harley chopper that was legally registered but I never got the inspection for it. If I got pulled over (amazingly, I never did) it would have been a $50 fine. Inspection is about $30 (and that bike would have never passed anyway).

In most states insurance is compulsory but in some states it's not. However--- most people stop there and just say 'you don't have to have insurance' but there is often more to the law. You might have to be able to show 'ability to compensate' up to the state minimums for insurance anyway. So yeah if you're a millionaire you can afford to pay someone's medical bills out of pocket but the average slob would be selling his house to pay for a fender bender.
That's the thing about the 'I don't need insurance' route-- you aren't off the hook for damages you caused and insurance companies have teams of lawyers to fight lawsuits. You don't.
Given the cost of medical expenses in the US, just someone going to the hospital to 'get checked out' and released will cost thousands of dollars.

[Ice_King]

Messaggio originale di Steph:

All of that aside though, I have also found out since first posting on this subject that it's not just that the laws seem a little strange, there is also some inconsistencies within the game itself with the dates on the plates not always matching up with what the police computer is telling us.
Now I've figured out that part of it is down to game/coding errors it all makes a little more sense, and is now easier to deal with.
It doesn't always happen. It seems to be kinda random and intermittent. Luck of the draw, if you will.
I've found that if there are discrepancies then following what the computer says rather than always going by what the cards/plates say usually stops you taking a hit to your score. Others have also backed this theory up too now, so that's what I'm sticking to for the time being.
.

IIRC, if the information on the tags doesn't match the computer, it's a stolen tag or fake registration or something, it's something you can charge them on and is a game feature. I haven't played in a while but I'll crank it back up and see if I can figure it out.

[Yobo1987]

What's the procedure on parked cars with invalid insurance status?