found a trailer licence plate

[69f100]

went for a ride on my cruiser today and saw a california plate on the ground. picked it up figured id put it on my wall, well its the plate off a trailor that fell off. still has the pti stickers and was registerd yearly till this year then someone got the new sticker, so this wasnt thrown away. how do i got about finding the owner? cause im pretty sure theyre missing this alot if they use the trailor and i dont want to cause them any trouble. maybe some good carma to. thank you all knowing garage journal.

 

[D.J.]

Take it to your local Police Department they will run it and return it to the owner for you. Also write a note for them to give to the owner and include your address or phone number so he can call and thank you and then you could ask him if he has any old trailer plates you could use as display!
Just my $ .02

 

[nehog]

I doubt the local PD will give your 'sticker note' to the owner (for obvious security reasons), but the PD will probably put into the computer the plate was found. I suspect the owner has already gotten a replacement tag, at least around here it only costs $5 for a single plate.

 

[SuperSocket]

I lost my trailer plate several months ago up here on some highway. Good thing is trailer plates here does not expire, so I just used one from my other trailer.

 

[half_full]

I'm in MI too. Plates are expensive for the non-expiring plate. I got lucky with a boat I purchased and the registration has unknown boat trailer as type. I buy and sell boats frequently. This has come in handy. Purchased a trailer from a friend, he gave me registration for the plate on it, good to go forever on that one... MI screwed up on that deal.
Anyway, I found a new trailer plate on the road in front of my house. Called the local sheriff and they came and picked it up.

 

[SuperSocket]

I'm in MI too. Plates are expensive for the non-expiring plate. I got lucky with a boat I purchased and the registration has unknown boat trailer as type. I buy and sell boats frequently. This has come in handy. Purchased a trailer from a friend, he gave me registration for the plate on it, good to go forever on that one... MI screwed up on that deal.
Anyway, I found a new trailer plate on the road in front of my house. Called the local sheriff and they came and picked it up.

All the new Michigan trailer plates are non-expiring.

 

[koditten]

I worry that these plates are go to go the way of the dinosours. Everybody that I talk to keeps their plates for the next trailer. I know people that have one plate for 4 different trailers. Don't these people in my state know that this is against the law? The last time I checked with police buddy, hea said the ticket for having no plats, was less than having the wrong plate. Its' almost as if the police know, but don't care.

Are there permanant trailer plates for other states? Sorry to hyjack the thread, these questions have been bugging me for a while. I deal a lot with trailers.

Thanks

Kirk

 

[Ray-CA]

Take the plate either the nearest DMV or CHP Office. They will either return it to the owner or if the vehicle has already been issued a new plate, destroy it.

Ray

 

[SuperSocket]

I worry that these plates are go to go the way of the dinosours. Everybody that I talk to keeps their plates for the next trailer. I know people that have one plate for 4 different trailers. Don't these people in my state know that this is against the law? The last time I checked with police buddy, hea said the ticket for having no plats, was less than having the wrong plate. Its' almost as if the police know, but don't care.

Are there permanant trailer plates for other states? Sorry to hyjack the thread, these questions have been bugging me for a while. I deal a lot with trailers.

Thanks

Kirk

No way for them to tell unless if you use someone elses plates, they go by weight class.

 

[58Yeoman]

In IL., the trailer plate is for that trailer only. You have to buy a new sticker every year.

When you sell the trailer, you keep the plate.

 

[Conn'swhiterose]

went for a ride on my cruiser today and saw a california plate on the ground. picked it up figured id put it on my wall, well its the plate off a trailor that fell off. still has the pti stickers and was registerd yearly till this year then someone got the new sticker, so this wasnt thrown away. how do i got about finding the owner? cause im pretty sure theyre missing this alot if they use the trailor and i dont want to cause them any trouble. maybe some good carma to. thank you all knowing garage journal.

Regardless of what happens, good for you! Not too many people would even care enough to ask...nice to see that there are still good people out there..

 

[69f100]

took it today to the police station. the lady at the front desk didn't know what to do so i talked to one of the Sheriffs, recognized him as the guy who who handled my stolen bike case. told him whats up and he did some typing on the computer and said the plate was from up north. so that was coo, and its getting sent up there when "the truck goes" up there (i have no idea what the truck is, im guessing something with the police). i got a quick ride home in a cop car and a sticker

 

[MP&C]

As many trailers get stolen in Ca, someone may have removed it on purpose..

 

[69f100]

As many trailers get stolen in Ca, someone may have removed it on purpose..

never thought about that. maybe i helped someone even more

 

[duffman1278]

Hey I lost my trailer plate! Dunno if it was stolen or what. Maybe it's mine? lol

 

[fattogatto]

Are there permanant trailer plates for other states?

In TN trailer plates are not required. However, if you decide to register the trailer and get plates then you have to keep the annual registration up, which costs. All states I have ever checked with will not require you to have plates if you are transitting the state and can show you are transitting - I.e. be within reasonable distance of an interstate. Having a tow vehicle registered in TN is pretty much required.

 

[69f100]

the plot thickens got a phone call from the department today asking me to go down, apparently they ran it and it is from something stolen, a small lawnmower trailer (how they know, i dont know) so i had to file a report and take the plate to the DMV. so heres where im at
-police know im in possession of stolen property
-know i cant drive and that the dmv is 20 miles away
-some guy in no-cal is missing his trailer
-and i have a plate sitting next to me in a plastic bag with some crossed out address on a tag
i already asked what the dmv will do that they cant and got quote "theyll know what to do"looks like its a looong bike ride

 

[69f100]

karma. . .
karma. . .
karma. . .

 

[jhelrey]

Haha.. bummer

 

[Red Green]

Sorry to hear about the headache trying to do something good is giving you.

No way for them to tell unless if you use someone elses plates, they go by weight class.

The registration has the year weight and manufacturer of the trailer on it. So when the police officer enter the trailer plate number they will have all that info. The Computer will they them that the plate I have for the lawn mower trailer is too light for the 24' enclosed trailer. I currently have 4 trailer plates in my name and have 1 more to register when I get around to it. I was spending $78 per year before the state changed its system. So I figured I have saved money since they changed the law and I do nt have to borther making sure I have a plate on the trailer.

I know several older people that registered their trailers in their grandchildrens names.

 

[38Chevy454]

I bet you that trailer the plate came from was stolen, loaded with stuff and driven into Mexico. Not sure why the plate was left behind, but trailer theft is a big problem with all the "undocumented" illegal alien workers returning to Mexico since no job in US.