Early in the morning you go out into the yard to your car.and you understand that something is wrong... You carefully examine the car and, to your horror, discover that it has no license plates. But they were there yesterday evening! You remember this absolutely clearly. And they could not "escape" themselves. The license plates were stolen from the car - what to do in such a situation? Who could need it? There are several answers to this. Conventionally, all license plate thieves can be divided into four groups. The first group is "amateur collectors". These thieves "hunt" for unusual, rare, usually old, license plates. They usually remove only one plate, and do it very carefully, trying not to damage it. "Going out on a job", collectors clearly imagine the future fate of your license plate. Most likely, it will add to the collection of such a "collector". However, there are other options - it can be resold or exchanged for another copy. The point is that this type of thieves will not return your number under any circumstances. Group two - "bad neighbors". Do you have a habit of parking your car in any free space in the yard, not caring that someone has long considered it "theirs"? Or maybe you recently splashed someone while driving by and did not even apologize? Or blocked the entrance to the building with your car? Or maybe you washed it next to the playground? Well ... Then it is quite possible that this is the reason for your troubles. Quite often, the theft of car license plates is simply an "act of retaliation" on the part of your favorite neighbors. As a rule, the "avengers" do not care to unscrew one or two license plates. And they do not stand on ceremony with the car - they can easily damage and scratch it. What fate awaits your license plates in this case? There are several options. Some people may keep the numbers as a keepsake and admire them on long winter evenings, remembering their “noble” deed and quietly rubbing their hands with joy that they “screwed” you so well. Others will take them to the nearest trash container. In any case, it is unlikely that anyone will admit to their deed and return them to you. So in this case, there is practically no chance of getting them back. Group three - “criminals”. These usually remove both numbers. They unscrew them very professionally and carefully. Numbers are used for criminal purposes - for example, you can rob a bank or run over a person with a car with stolen numbers. You can hang them on a stolen car and try to drive it, and then sell it, etc. It is clear that they are also unlikely to feel remorse and decide to return what was stolen back. Group four - the last one. “Extortionists”. This is probably the only option in which you have every chance of getting your registration plates back. In fact, this is what it's all about. In place of the removed license plates, you will find a note with the ransom conditions. The amount, as well as the method of transferring the plates and money, depend on the imagination and greed of the scammers. Whether or not to give in to the extortionists is up to you.
Driving without numbers
What to do if both numbers are stolen?Driving without license plates is a pretty serious offense. And the punishment for it is appropriate. Until recently, a trip without one license plate "cost" the unlucky driver only 500 rubles. This is the fine amount provided for by the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. However, recently the Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation issued a ruling according to which it does not matter at all whether you have one or both license plates. For driving a car without plates, a fine of 5,000 rubles is imposed. And in unfortunate circumstances, your license can be taken away. For a period of one to three months. And this is already serious. What to do? Perhaps, first you need to understand what not to do. Definitely do not be tempted by tempting offers on the Internet promising to rid you of this problem "quickly and very inexpensively." It is necessary to remember that making duplicate license plates is an illegal act. And the punishment for such a "cute prank" will be quite serious. According to the same Code, you can be fined 2,500 rubles just for installing "fake" plates. Well, and if you decide to travel in a car with fake registration plates - why install them then? - you will most likely simply lose your driver's license. And it's good if it's only for six months! But that's not all. The unlucky car owner may also face criminal liability. According to Article 326, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, counterfeiting a state registration plate is punishable by "a fine of up to eighty thousand rubles, or restriction of freedom for up to two years, or imprisonment for the same term." So is it worth the risk?
What should you do if your license plates are stolen?
Step one.You need to go to the police department and write a statement about the theft of license plates. The police officer will draw up a report of the incident and give you a notification slip. Your application will be reviewed within 10 days, and then a decision will be made on it. What is in this resolution? There are two options. In the first case, it is a resolution to initiate a criminal case. In the second case, it is a resolution to refuse to initiate a criminal case. With a very high degree of probability, this is what you will receive. Step two. Having received the notification slip, without wasting time, call the MREO (Interdistrict Registration and Examination Department of the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate). This is where they replace registration plates. Check with the employees of the organization whether you will need to bring a resolution to refuse to initiate a criminal case. In some departments, it is enough to simply present the notification slip. If a resolution is still required, you will have to wait 10 days, if not - you can go to the MREO immediately. What do you need to take with you? You will need:
- passport;
- a statement of the standard pattern (you can write it on the spot);
- vehicle passport - PTS;
- copy of the title;
- certificate of registration of the vehicle;
- the policy of OSAGO;
- driver's license;
- a vehicle inspection certificate;
- medical certificate;
- money - they will go towards paying state fees for changing numbers and replacing the GTO coupon.
Just in case, make a few photocopies.all documents. If you drive a car under a power of attorney - do not forget to take it too. Moreover, it must necessarily contain a clause according to which you have the right to make changes to the registration data. If you still have one of the numbers, you will need to hand it in. About two hours after submitting the documents, you will be given new numbers and documents for the car, with the changes made to them. Step three. Now you need to change the technical inspection coupon. To do this, you need to go to a service station. By the way, this is where you may need a medical certificate. Do not worry, you will not have to go through the entire technical inspection procedure. You will need to write an application, pay the state fee and simply pick up a new coupon. In this case, the validity period of the new coupon will remain the same as the old one. Well, the last thing - you need to replace the insurance policy. Here everything depends on your insurance company. Some simply make changes to existing policies, others - issue new certificates.
How to protect yourself from the theft of numbers?
As a rule, taught by bitter experience,motorists prefer to take some safety measures and take care in advance that it is not easy to unscrew the numbers from their car. What should be done for this? Firstly, you should not rely on plastic number frames. It is easy to pull a number out of them - pie. And you do not need a tool, and it will take only a few seconds. Why make life easier for intruders? It is much safer if your license plates are secured with bolts or screws. Here, at least, you will need a screwdriver. And such a procedure takes a little more time. After all, quite often they just take what is “badly lying around” - that is, those numbers that are easier to remove. Perhaps the most reliable way to protect numbers - is to secure them with special rivets. Then in order to remove them, you will need a hand drill or screwdriver. And working with such a tool near the car will certainly attract attention. Well, that's all. All the torment is behind you, and you are the happy owner of new numbers. Now you know exactly what to do if your numbers are stolen from your car. If you are lucky, all the "ordeal" takes one day. If you are unlucky... several. But it's not that bad, right? Although, of course, it is better to make sure that this story does not repeat itself again. We recommend reading:
