New member wih legal auto question

[Gina B]

Hello, my name is Gina and I am quite upse and after speaking with DMV today I am still unsure what to do. I have been driving a car that my friend (old boss) owns, insures and registers. He lived in Elmsford NY where I used to eside. When my mother recently died and I had to come back to Queens I have been using this car, paying all the bills,epairs and maintenance. I reimburse Jack for the auto insurance. I am 63 yrs old, disabled and was working but had to leave my job to take care of my mother until she died. Now I am searching for work, and staying with a dear friend in bayside, and stored my home furnishings . The bills are high and I was given the title to the car, signed by Jack, and therefore I or my roomate can insure it, register it, and keep it here in Queens. Jack has since moved to Connecticut, and told me everything was taken care of as far as Insurance, etc. I had the car Inspected recently and other than a broken side mirror and some minor repairs it is fine. Jack is 72 yrs of age and very ill now, cannot drive and gave me the signed title to the car. It is a Ford Windstar 2000 with 117,000 miles. Yesterday, the car was legally parked in front of my friends home and it was towed by the marshall for unpaid tickets. I don't know what to do. I didn't know Jack had not paid tickets, etc. for everything went to his mail not to me. I would deposit the insurance money to his Chase Acct. Now I don't have monies to pay his tickets; I need the car for I gave him minimal money for it, but don't know what to do with respect to the towing, fees, etc. Please be kind enough to explain to me any options I may have for I have limited time to get this vehicle back. I am quite upset and have noone to ask. Thank you for yout time. Gina

[MikeyD]

Welcome to the forum. Are you interested in being a cop because this is a cop forum.

Per your question, I'm not an attorney, but I would say there isn't much you can do. The car isn't in your name, you didn't state you were named as an authorized driver on the insurance policy, and the tickets aren't yours. Personally, I don't think there is much you can do.

[marinepilot]

Gina, Welcome to RP from the Florida Panhandle. I'm sorry, I'm not from New York, so I really can't answer your question. But it does sound like you're going to be responsible for the towing, the storage, and if you want to get it out, you'll need to pay for the tickets. Either that, or maybe call Jack and see if he has the money to pay for it all since you say they are his tickets.

MikeyD, not everyone here is interested in becoming a cop. This forum is also for those asking questions to be answered by LEO's, and anyone just generally interested in the law enforcement field.

[retdetsgt]

There should be a phone number or some way to contact someone in the city about these tickets. Probably, if you can show that you obtained legal ownership of the car after the tickets were issued, they will be dismissed. I can't speak for NY, but that happens here occasionally.

I'm not sure about the tow fees though. Sometimes they can be taken care of too, but you will have to contact the court or whoever about it.

[retdetsgt]

Welcome to the forum. Are you interested in being a cop because this is a cop forum.

[mcsap]

Perhaps if you can show that the car became " yours " before he managed to get the tickets they might be more lenient.

If he signed the title over to you in PA , then at that point the car WAS yours and you were illegally operating it using HIS plates. Not sure how that works in New York but if that holds true , that too may be of benefit to you.

Or...maybe he has a car they can seize that they don't know about. Have you tried to call or visit him to see if he would help you in any way ?

[retdetsgt]

Oregon and a lot of other states don't change the plates with the car changes title. The same plates stay with the vehicle as long as its registered in Oregon unless one of the owners wants to change them. I don't know about NY.

[mobrien316]

Welcome to the forum. Are you interested in being a cop because this is a cop forum.

Per your question, I'm not an attorney, but I would say there isn't much you can do. The car isn't in your name, you didn't state you were named as an authorized driver on the insurance policy, and the tickets aren't yours. Personally, I don't think there is much you can do.

This is also a forum where people ask questions of police officers. Please don't be rude.

[Joeyd6]

Gina,

Welcome to RP! You have numerous problems.

Jack gave you the car which was owned, isnured and registered by him. He then gave you the signed title. Under NYS law, you had 14 days from that point to register/title and insure the vehicle. I may be wrong on this, but it sounds like you just kept driving/using it like nothing changed. I am not sure if you were listed on the actual insurance policy, but if not, it is actually insurance fraud in NY.

The car admittedly sounds like it was in your posession. I am not sure for how long. In NY City, in order for a car to be twoed, you must THREE unpaid parking tickets, all of which must be at least 90 dasy old. They are very good about snagging cars quickly these days. So if the car has been in your posession, it is very likely YOU got the tickets, and not him. Additionally, at the 90 day mark, a letter is sent to the registered owner.

If Jack gave you the title, and you properly registered such within the 14 days, you would have got a notice about the tickets.

To get that car out you need registration, insurance, fines paid up and a valid license.

[marinepilot]

Welcome to the forum. Are you interested in being a cop because this is a cop forum.

This is also a forum where people ask questions of police officers. Please don't be rude.

PM has been sent and received, message understood and promises made that it won't happen again.