Q: I’ve noticed an increasing number of vehicles displaying expired registration stickers. For example, within an hour in February I observed four different cars driving with 2025 (yellow) registration stickers while traveling from Torrance to John Wayne Airport. I understand that enforcement priorities can vary, but it is concerning to see expired registrations while road-maintenance issues — such as potholes — remain unresolved for extended periods. It raises the broader question of compliance and fairness, too. Is there a specific agency responsible for reporting vehicles with expired registration?
– Wayne Li, Rancho Palos Verdes
A: Years ago, a co-worker strolled into the office a bit grouchy about getting pulled over for an expired registration tag and Honk told him he deserved it.
“You are so Johnny Law,” he huffed.
Honk was amused. But if you want to drive about, you should play by the rules. Right, Wayne?
Few likely get away with expired tags in the long haul.
The next time the vehicle’s owner tries to re-up the registration, or sell, they must pay any back fees and penalties in addition to the current tab. The financial penalties can get rather heavy, too, even if the vehicle stayed in the garage the whole time.
In 2024, a new law took effect: A vehicle can’t get pulled over only for an expired tag until the second month after expiration. That is to keep officers really looking for other violations to pull someone over on a tag violation; some lawmakers were concerned about Black and Hispanic motorists getting disproportionately stopped for this.
Officer Brian Kinsey, who doubles as a California Highway Patrol spokesperson out of the San Juan Capistrano office, says an expired tag will catch his eye “once it’s over two months expired.”
But he noted that sometimes a vehicle owner paid for the sticker and lost it or just hadn’t put it on for some reason. Officers can tell if the payment was made by calling a dispatcher to check or running the vehicle on the squad car’s computer.
An officer with any police agency can, in theory, cite a violator. Of course, an officer has to weigh that decision with any other call coming in, work task or pursuing a speeder who just flew by.
At more than six months expired, the vehicle — parked or driven — can get towed, with the owner hit with impound fees. But the officer or official must ensure the registration wasn’t paid; a car can’t be towed just because the owner left the tag in the glove box.
HONKIN’ FACT: A Southwest Airlines flight, from Oakland to San Diego, was delayed by more than an hour last month because of a human-like robot, according to ABC7 News Bay Area. After the 70-pound Bebop took its seat, flight officials became concerned about the lithium battery inside.
It had to come out, but Bebop could stay aboard. Bebop’s owner, Elite Event Robotics, quickly overnighted replacement batteries so the robot could make its next gig. Before boarding in the Bay Area, Bebop did a little dance in the terminal, looking a bit like John Travolta in “Pulp Fiction.”
To ask Honk questions, reach him at honk@ocregister.com. He only answers those that are published. To see Honk online: ocregister.com/tag/honk. Twitter: @OCRegisterHonk