California: Amnesty Passes

[Sledge]

You basically need to do what the folks above have suggested--download the forms from the DMV website and fill them in, then go to the DMV, tell them that you need to re-register your car correctly as an spcn/sb100, ask them if they know about the amnesty program, etc. I went to 5 different DMVs to finally find some that were helpful. The one in Costa Mesa reviewed all my paperwork, took my registration money for the upcoming year (registered the incorrect way), gave me a temp operating permit thru 12/31/09, and sent all my paperwork to Sacramento. This was after spinning my wheels at Glendale, Long Beach, and before that, a DMV in San Diego. Sacramento DMV sent back a bunch of paperwork for me to fill out, along with the request to obtain a VIN verification from the CHP (a piece of cake, really nice folks at the CHP) and a lights and brakes check by a DMV-approved shop (the hard part is finding a local shop that does DMV-approved inspections, check the BAR website for help). The paperwork also had me go to a BAR referee. Since the Sacramento DMV had not designated the year of my build or directed the BAR to call it a 2009 SPCN, they gave me a piece of paper proving my visit and explaining what was missing. The BAR ref then told me that the best thing I could do was to take all the paperwork to the Torrance DMV for them to submit to Sacramento (he says they really know what they are doing, and this way I would get on record with them in case the Sacramento DMV does not get back to me with an under-500 number as promised in their letter), pay the fees owed for the past few years--several $K in my case--and be prepared to go to the Torrance DMV on January 4 to get my SB100 number. So, I did as suggested, paid all the fees owed, and am awaiting a letter from Sacramento. If it does not arrive by Jan. 2 I will be in line at the Torrance DMV the morning of the 4th.

To get this far I had to enlist the help and advice of the Morgster and a DMV-enforcement person that Morgster suggested. With their help and the DMV at Costa Mesa, the ball finally got rolling. Prior to that I was clearly dealing with people that did not know what to do (and did not want to help or learn).

So, my fingers are crossed for the new year

Hope this helps others....