Can A Cop Pull You Over For Expired Registration During Traffic Stops?

No one wants to get pulled over by the police. Cops enforce laws intended to keep people safe on the road. However, you can stick to the rulebook like glue and still get pulled over at a traffic stop for things out of your control.

Can a cop pull you over for an infraction like expired registration? Let’s look at the leading examples and find out how to avoid them or minimize their penalties.

Driving Without Car Insurance

Car insurance covers damage to the vehicle and provides financial protection for people liable for injuries or damages to other people. It can also cover medical bills for the insured driver and passengers who got hurt during accidents or if uninsured or underinsured drivers collide with your vehicle. Insurance doesn’t directly impact your ability to drive or your vehicle’s road performance. However, it provides security and peace of mind.

Most states prohibit driving without car insurance. But you can accidentally lose insurance coverage. One possibility is the automatic payment function failing. Another is the insurance policy lapsing after you forgot to renew it past its end date.

Whatever the reason for the loss of car insurance, you’re going to end up in trouble if police officers pull you over, check your record, and learn that your vehicle lost its insurance coverage. In the worst-case scenario, they might call a tow truck to bring your vehicle to an impounding lot.

Certain states will charge drivers without valid insurance with misdemeanors and impose big fines. The police can also impound the uninsured car until the driver shows evidence of the insurance policy’s renewal.

Most insurance companies let you reactivate your coverage remotely. Usually, you can call their customer service and have your lapsed car insurance policy restored over the phone. Many companies also have apps that let you reactivate the policy online. The important thing is getting your car insurance back before the tow truck rolls up to your vehicle.

If your vehicle gets impounded, you bear the burden of coming up with proof of your car insurance. The police will charge you for the cost of storing your vehicle in the impounding lot. You might also have to pay other fines.

Invalid Driver’s License

It’s illegal to drive a vehicle without a driver’s license. That’s why you usually keep your license on your person, such as in your wallet.

Unfortunately, your driver’s license can get suspended for various reasons without warning. In California, driving under the influence, driving without insurance, and refusing required chemical tests can lead to the suspension of your license. So can failing to pay child support, having a physical or mental disorder like Alzheimer’s, and having alcohol in your vehicle when you’re under 21.

In most cases, police officers can bring up your vehicle’s information on a computerized database. They can pull you over, inform you about your invalid driver’s license, and warn you that you can’t drive legally. The officers might call for a tow truck if no one with a valid license can come and drive your vehicle for you. If your car gets towed, it’s going to an impound lot.

Ask the police officer if you can call a family member or friend to bring your car home. If the officer agrees, you can avoid towing and storage fees.

If you can’t avoid getting your car towed, brace yourself for various fines and fees. Get ready to file paperwork to recover your license and vehicle.

Suspended Vehicle Registration

The vehicle registration is an official certificate that your car or truck meets legal and safety regulations for operating on public roads. It also shows the vehicle’s owner and connects the vehicle to a state.

Most states prohibit driving unregistered cars. Vehicle registrations generally last for a year before they require renewal.

Unfortunately, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) can suspend the vehicle registration of your car or truck.

The most common reasons for suspension are driving without car insurance and driving without a valid driver’s license. Other possible causes are expired tags and unpaid tickets.

In California and certain other states, police give fix-it tickets to drivers in unregistered cars. Drivers have an opportunity to resolve the issue without going to jail or paying a fine.

Other states have stricter laws on expired and suspended vehicle registrations. In particular, long-standing suspensions and unrenewed registrations have more serious consequences.

Still, you can try to ask the police officer for the chance to book a DMV appointment on the spot. Politely explain how you’re going to resolve the issue of your unregistered vehicle. While it won’t work every time, showing good faith might persuade the officer to let you off with a verbal warning. Of course, you should deliver on your end of the informal agreement as soon as possible.

Aggressive Driving

Do you drive aggressively? Reckless driving habits can get you pulled over. If the police officer deems your driving behaviors too dangerous, they can call for a tow.

Avoid the following aggressive driving behaviors:

• Speeding in heavy traffic
• Tailgating
• Cutting in front of another driver before decelerating
• Running a red light
• Weaving in and out of traffic
• Changing lanes without giving a signal
• Blocking cars trying to pass or change lanes
• Using headlights or brakes

Street Racing and Illegal Drag Racing

The need for speed sometimes overrides common sense. Some drivers race each other on the streets. Others hold drag races.

Understandably, the police will impound any race car they catch when they raid illegal racing events. They can also seize non-racing vehicles owned or used by the people who organized, promoted, or watched the illegal race happen. Counted as public safety risks and evidence of a crime, impounded cars might remain in the impounding lot for the foreseeable future.