I-Team: Out of State Plates and how police weed out those evading vehicle registration requirements

Registering your vehicle in California costs more than in other states due to our state's unique fees and licensing requirements. The I-Team is looking into those who don't register their cars here to avoid those extra charges.

Roughly a third of the revenue from a host of fees and taxes goes to local governments, a quarter to State Highways, 21 percent to the CHP, and 10 percent to the Department of Motor Vehicles. 

Fees for a new gas car range from $300 to $500 or more, and renewals run around $100 to $200 or more.

One group exempt from our registration requirements is snowbirds, those winter visitors from other places who are here only for the season. 

I-Team investigator Jeff Stahl spoke with the CHP about Snowbirds not needing to register their cars locally.

CHP Officer David Torres said, ”They don’t if they’re operating here for less than six months.” For more than 6 months, they have to pay California registration fees. 

Our story, airing Thursday, reveals how the CHP actively investigates suspected registration violators.

I-Team investigator Jeff Stahl is talking with drivers and the CHP and working to reveal some of their enforcement techniques, why they matter, and how they ensure everyone complies.

See the high cost to those who ultimately get caught in his I-Team investigation, Out of State Plates, Thursday at 6:00 p.m. on KESQ News Channel 3.