Expired Tags can start to feel like a hospital gown, covering everything but your ass hanging out in the wind. Maybe you are not aware of your condition, maybe you did not receive the notice in the mail. These would be legitimate excuses within the first couple of months of expiration. Annual state registration for vehicles after all, is kind of like a season pass for the roads, entitling the holder the legitimate ability to complain about the condition of the roads they pay for. Notice is usually sent a month prior, if an officer happens to find a car -month past expiration often a courteous reminder is given. Finding expired registration on passing cars probably requires as much attention to detail as luck. Tags are easier to hide than a burned-out head or tail light, not as obvious as speeding. Staying out of trouble and getting stopped depends on keeping an eye out for who is behind or about to get in traffic. Depending on a smart route, the need to duck out of traffic may only arise a couple of times and hopefully without sudden necessity. The knowledge of the make and model of the patrol cars will become necessary and depending on the time of year, headlights. Daylight savings time reduces visibility earlier and within a matter of days. Beware the gaze into the rearview mirror, all kinds of headlights eventually start to look like some kind of cop car. Smudging the plates can be wise but not too much, the tactic usually only aides the already oblivious.
Success is an effort of awareness, yet with each daily ticket punched begs the question when that runs out. Not due to effort, not due to acumen, but to time and averages. Until then the scorn of those wise enough to spy that sticker from last year, grows like a nose pimple. Each red light without a car already behind you feels like a dreaded wedding aisle waiting for an unholy black and white bridegroom baring red and blue lights to saunter into view. Or using a blinker to take a right turn could stall a pig just long enough for them to turn in behind. Changing your mind and going straight might look clumsy but depending on traffic the move could be useful. Perhaps some bored cop cruising through the grocery store parking lot could stumble upon the back of your car, sticking a ticket on your wind shield or even worse sticking around until you came out. With as much success comes as much stress, it is advisable to simply purchase the correct registration regardless of the ridiculous amount being charged for your already purchased vehicle. If it helps look at the payment as insurance from getting stopped by some pig over something stupid, which could lead to much more hassle. Cutting the suspense of not knowing when a Tuesday morning to work or a Sunday junket for fast food will turn into much more than intended. Hospital gowns can only be worn for so long.
PS I was finally stopped because I had not waited for defrost and my windshield was frosted over. I got my tags and the charges were dismissed.
