Los Angeles, California
Vehicle Registration Forgery
Forgery or Alteration of a Vehicle Registration
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Definition | Examples | Penalties
There are a wide variety of situations that qualify as vehicle registration fraud under California Vehicle Code 4463. Some of the most common include (but are not limited to):
- Registering a vehicle while intentionally misrepresenting the year of the vehicle (for example, to avoid complying with California smog laws).
- Registering a vehicle while intentionally understating the value of the vehicle.
- Living in California and registering a car that you own and operate in this state in another state without paying the required California taxes and fees.
- Purchasing or using a “fake” registration sticker.
- Obtaining current registration tabs from another person to place on your own vehicle or falsifying vehicle registration documents.
Related Offenses
There are a variety of crimes closely related to California’s fraudulent vehicle registration laws. Many of these offenses may be connected to a violation of California Vehicle Code 4463. Some of these include:
- Violations of California Vehicle Code 4463
- Disabled placards
Forging a disabled person parking placard—meaning a placard issued by the DMV that carries the universal “wheelchair symbol” and grants special parking privileges.
Passing or attempting to pass something false as genuine.
Acquiring, possessing, selling, or offering to sell a forged disabled placard as if it were genuine. This constitutes a violation of California Vehicle Code 4463(b) VC.
The California fraudulent vehicle registration law (Vehicle Code 4463) is what is known as a “wobbler” offense. A “wobbler” is a crime that prosecutors may choose to charge either as a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on:
- The facts of the case, and
- Your criminal history.
If convicted of vehicle registration forgery/alteration as a misdemeanor, you face:
- Up to one year in county jail, and
- A maximum $1,000 fine.
If convicted as a felony, you face:
- 16 months, two years, or three years in California state prison, and
- A maximum $10,000 fine.
Additional Penalties
In addition to the possible jail or prison sentences and fines, a conviction for forging or altering vehicle registration in California may also subject you to penalties from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
DMV Action
If the DMV believes that you have committed fraud on any application, it may refuse to issue or renew your driver’s license, or it may revoke your current driver’s license.
This means that if, for example, you intentionally understate the value of your vehicle on your registration application, the DMV may take action against you.
Similarly, the DMV may refuse to issue, renew, or transfer a registration if the application contains false or fraudulent statements or if the applicant unlawfully uses any registration certificate.
Defenses
Lack of Intent to Defraud
If the prosecutor cannot prove that you intentionally committed fraud, you should not be found guilty of fraudulent vehicle registration.
For example, you may purchase a used car through Craigslist or another private sale. You pay the seller for the car and are later stopped by police for a traffic violation. The officer notices that the registration tags appear suspicious and, after reviewing the registration certificate, may suspect that it is forged. However, if you purchased the vehicle believing it was a legitimate transaction and did not know the documents were falsified, then you did not intentionally commit fraud and should not be held criminally responsible for this conduct.
Insufficient Evidence
When clear evidence is lacking, proving your intent to defraud can be difficult. In fact, most accusations of vehicle registration forgery rely on circumstantial evidence. Circumstantial evidence does not directly prove guilt but allows conclusions to be drawn from the surrounding circumstances.
Progresso Legal Group P.C. has professional attorneys who can provide the best legal advice and representation for your case. Call us today—your consultation is FREE!
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