Thats not neccesarily true. I had mine done a month late this year and didn't pay a fine.

But I DID get a ticket on Newbury Street for an expired sticker so I didn't escape entirely without punishment :-P

(Hey this thing's finally letting me log in!)

They put my registration into the computer and everything, but only charged me $29 and gave me September instead of August. Perhaps it does it if you do it more than a month late or something?

http://1smootshort.blogspot.com

I'm not sure how they can do that. As far as I recall, the law bars operation of an uninspected motor vehicle. Merely letting the sticker lapse is not illegal. So the RMV would need to demonstrate that you drove it during the lapsed period; a practically impossible task.

Anyone want to look up the actual law (it's in chapter 90 somewhere) and see if my memory is accurate?

CP

I usually don't get around to reinspection until six months or so after my old one expires.

But at least they put the inspection sticker on themselves, because I'd never get around to it. This weekend my wife finally broke down and put the new registration sticker on my plate - and noticed that I never put the previous one on at all.

Does that make me the Champeen Auto-Procrastinator? I've never gotten a fine or a ticket for either lapse.

Um, yeah, like I don't get that? Duh. LTFR!

Registrations and inspections are different, but they can be electronically LINKED as you have to, you know, present one to get the other?

Perhaps somebody encouraged the state to back off on the scheme, but as of May, 2006 the plan was to flag registrations for revocation and fine you when you went in late.

I was handed an official state notice to that effect when I was 4 months late to get my old car inspected.