California closes the Steve Jobs license plate loophole

[the8thark]

California closes the Steve Jobs license plate loophole
The law goes into effect in 2019 and will provide the state with $19 million a year.
http://arstechnica.com/cars/2016/07...ed-california-wants-temporary-license-plates/

 

[maflynn]

That was a silly thing (the loop hole) and stupid for others like Jobs to follow. I'm surprised it took Ca. this long to close that loop hole

 

[flyinmac]

Guessing that Steve's phones, iPods, etc. also were free of serial numbers, IMEI numbers, MAC addresses, and phone numbers as well.

You didn't find or call Steve, he found you

 

[keysofanxiety]

That was a silly thing (the loop hole) and stupid for others like Jobs to follow. I'm surprised it took Ca. this long to close that loop hole

I always got the feeling that Steve would defy authority where possible through every possible loophole, even if there was no benefit. It's not like he had temporary licence plates to be anonymous -- he'd wave when people would take photos and stuff like that.

 

[maflynn]

I always got the feeling that Steve would defy authority where possible through every possible loophole

I could see him, defying the law, if they had closed the loophole while he was alive. I guess others jumped on the bandwagon and opted for no plate. Still, why are they rolling this in 3 years and not immediately

 

[keysofanxiety]

Still, why are they rolling this in 3 years and not immediately

I haven't the foggiest! It does seem a bit of an odd thing. Probably a loophole suffocated in red tape or something. Your guess is as good as mine ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[Weaselboy]

I could see him, defying the law, if they had closed the loophole while he was alive. I guess others jumped on the bandwagon and opted for no plate. Still, why are they rolling this in 3 years and not immediately

From reading the new vehicle code sections, it looks like they are creating an entirely new system where the dealers will have these temporary plates they affix before you roll off the lot. So my thought is it will take that long to setup the manufacture of the plates, DMV computer system changes... that sort of thing.

I too am surprised they never did this before. CA is lagging in this area.

 

[maflynn]

it looks like they are creating an entirely new system

interesting, so its really less about just closing one loophole, and more about updating how they handle the transaction from start to finish. I can see that requiring more work and time.

 

[Weaselboy]

interesting, so its really less about just closing one loophole, and more about updating how they handle the transaction from start to finish. I can see that requiring more work and time.

Plus most of the the CA DMV backend is still COBOL. If you are a COBOL programmer, now is the time to come to Sacramento and cash in!

 

[44267547]

I could see him, defying the law, if they had closed the loophole while he was alive. I guess others jumped on the bandwagon and opted for no plate. Still, why are they rolling this in 3 years and not immediately

Interestingly enough, Jobs was smart enough to 'Work' the system if you will. Rumor was he only drove black Mercedes Benz SL Series and he leased the vehicles in Apple's name, meaning he never listed his personal address. I'm assuming the insurance was also listed in Apple's name. Incognito and secrecy was his method of operation.

 

[C DM]

Interestingly enough, Jobs was smart enough to 'Work' the system if you will. Rumor was he only drove black Mercedes Benz SL Series and he leased the vehicles in Apple's name, meaning he never listed his personal address. I'm assuming the insurance was also listed in Apple's name. Incognito and secrecy was his method of operation.

Weren't there pictures of his silver Mercedes?

 

[44267547]

Weren't there pictures of his silver Mercedes?

I didn't view the pictures. Again, this was something rumored. Maybe he drove black Mercedes later in his career? I honestly don't know.

 

[kdarling]

Weren't there pictures of his silver Mercedes?

You're correct. They were silver.

http://www.cultofmac.com/126338/why-steve-jobs-mercedes-never-had-a-license-plate/

 

[I7guy]

Plus most of the the CA DMV backend is still COBOL. If you are a COBOL programmer, now is the time to come to Sacramento and cash in!

COBOL, it just works.

 

[ApfelKuchen]

We're certainly Jobs-obsessed around here, but a loophole of this sort doesn't survive for so long due to one man's interests. It smells like something that saved auto dealers time and trouble, and may have been cheaper for the DMV. Plenty of California celebrities (more likely in LA than Silicon Valley) would have appreciated it for the same reason Steve did (you really think he discovered it by studying California law books or by asking his legal team if there's a way to drive around without plates?). On the other hand, I doubt law enforcement liked it at all. I find the $19 million in uncollected tolls to be an interesting sign of the times - before automated toll collection, anyone who had driven through a toll plaza without stopping would have had a police car on his tail.

 

[Tech198]

Good to see them catching up to the rest of us