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Help! Sold car, getting someone else's traffic tickets.

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by Mack, Mar 24, 2005.

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  1. Mack

    Mack Member

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    I sold my car about 2 months ago. It was the only time I've ever sold a car. Basically he handed me cash and I gave him the title. Today I get a notice of a parking ticket, and I'm told the owner never transferred registration to himself.

    I don't have his contact info anymore. I checked my old cell phone records, but the number wasn't recorded. I looked into doing a motor vehicle transfer notification but I don't have his address.

    I'm told if he doesn't transfer the car to himself, I'm liable for any tickets or accidents he gets into. I already took it off of my insurance. How do I get myself out of this mess?
     
    #1 Mack, Mar 24, 2005
  2. swilkins

    swilkins Member

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    Report your car stolen and give them his name.

    That should take care of it.
     
    #2 swilkins, Mar 24, 2005
  3. codell

    codell Member

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    you didn't at least do a bill of sale? a receipt of some kind?
     
    #3 codell, Mar 24, 2005
  4. MR. MEOWGI

    MR. MEOWGI Contributing Member

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    Was his name Looneytoon?
     
    #4 MR. MEOWGI, Mar 24, 2005
  5. akperez

    akperez Member

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    If you are in Harris County you need to fill out a Transfer of Title form that you can find here

    http://www.tax.co.harris.tx.us/forms.asp#tax

    EDIT: Nevermind...I just saw you don't have an address for him. I'm pretty sure you need one.
     
    #5 akperez, Mar 24, 2005
    Last edited: Mar 24, 2005
  6. pirc1

    pirc1 Member

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    Pay the ticket and collect the car back. Simple:D
     
    #6 pirc1, Mar 24, 2005
  7. droxford

    droxford Member

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    You are now paying the terrible price for carelessly mishandling a serious transaction.

    You probably need to contact law enforcement, an attorney, or both.

    -- droxford
     
    #7 droxford, Mar 24, 2005
  8. Supermac34

    Supermac34 President, Von Wafer Fan Club

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    You don't transfer the title by just handing it to him...you have to transfer title at the court house.

    As far as the state is concerned, its still your car.
     
    #8 Supermac34, Mar 24, 2005
  9. Mack

    Mack Member

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    No, I was stupid and careless. I just followed some instructions on the DOT website, but didn't write a receipt or bill of sale. I never sold a vehicle before, and this one wasn't worth much ($700). I had his cell phone number but lost it.
     
    #9 Mack, Mar 24, 2005
  10. Toast

    Toast Member

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    Yeah, you kinda screwed yourself there by not at least getting some sort of signature.

    Your best bet might be to call a lawyer buddy of yours or your family's (if you have one).
     
    #10 Toast, Mar 24, 2005
  11. Mack

    Mack Member

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    Yeah, I've been to the local Vehicle/Title registration office. They've told me to call the regional office.
     
    #11 Mack, Mar 24, 2005
  12. SoSoDef76

    SoSoDef76 Member

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    Make sure you contact your county tax office or VTR regional office and let them know what's going on.
     
    #12 SoSoDef76, Mar 24, 2005
    Last edited: Mar 24, 2005
  13. SamCassell

    SamCassell Member

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    From someone who's dealt with these before...

    How many tickets? It may be worth your while to just pay them.

    There's a presumption that the registered owner of the vehicle is the one who parked the car. It's up to you to rebut this presumption. This is for parking tickets, you don't have to worry about his traffic tickets.

    Find a receipt for the sale, or a cancelled check, something indicating when the vehicle was sold to that guy. If you can, then take that to the court and see if they'll dismiss the tickets for you.

    Get the title transferred, asap, or this stuff will keep happening to you.
     
    #13 SamCassell, Mar 24, 2005
  14. RocketsPimp

    RocketsPimp Member

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    Did you ever call him or take a call from him on your cell phone?

    If so, check your phone record. The number has to be there.
     
    #14 RocketsPimp, Mar 24, 2005
  15. Falcons Talon

    Falcons Talon Member

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    I think he said he checked already.
     
    #15 Falcons Talon, Mar 24, 2005
  16. oomp

    oomp Member

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    I'm not saying this is the case, but I got a notice of a ticket in a similar time frame from a car that I traded in to CARMAX. The paper work just hadn't caught up yet.
     
    #16 oomp, Mar 24, 2005
  17. Mack

    Mack Member

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    Hey guys,

    I did get his call on my cell phone. I wrote it down somewhere, then moved, and I can't find that slip of paper now. I think I accidentally gave it back to him when I gave him my vehicle repair documents. I checked my phone records, but they simply listed the call as "incoming" :mad:

    I remembered that my phone keeps a list of incoming calls, and checked it, but found out that it didn't go back that far - 1 week too late!

    Then I remembered there was one guy who emailed me about the car. He wanted to set up a time, but never replied to my last email. Three days later, two guys call me up and say they're in the parking lot and wanted to test drive the car. It didn't immediately dawn on me that one of these guys was the same guy, because I never gave them directions to my place. Thinking back, it's a little scary.

    I emailed this guy and he says he did indeed buy the car. I offered to pay the parking ticket ($40) as long as he takes care of the registration. In any event, I'm going to file a Motor Vehicle Transfer Notification form, so I don't have to depend on him. I have his full name now, and I should be able to get his address from that. If he's not willing to give it to me himself, I'll go through other means.

    All in all, lesson has been learned. I'm usually great keeping records of things, but this time, I was way too careless with it.
     
    #17 Mack, Mar 24, 2005
  18. JunkyardDwg

    JunkyardDwg Member

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    What about paper documentation...if i'm not mistaken, your cell phone statement would list all incoming and outgoing calls...if you contacted him via cell, then it would have to show up on there.
     
    #18 JunkyardDwg, Mar 24, 2005
  19. JunkyardDwg

    JunkyardDwg Member

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    Dang that just plain sucks. My monthly statements from T-Mobile list all activity for that month, including date, time, mins used AND number called.
     
    #19 JunkyardDwg, Mar 24, 2005
  20. Mack

    Mack Member

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    Yeah, I checked my invoice online. It just says "Incoming". Almost all the other calls have actual numbers. But, when I actually received the calls, my cell phone displayed the numbers, I remember that much. I just don't understand why it isn't displayed on my bill.
     
    #20 Mack, Mar 24, 2005
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