Staying Legal

[GJN]

So yesterday I finally got around to get my bike inspection (thanks barry for the contact info).

I bought the bike used for really cheap, thinking I was practically robbing the guy. Now I know better.

The bike had missed 2 years inspections (500rmb fine) and had an outstanding unpaid traffic violation on its record (300rmb fine AND in order for me to remove it I had to accept the 3 points deduction FROM MY LICENSE even though the infraction occurred in 2009).

Include agent fee of 300rmb and I paid 1,100rmb to make my bike 'legal.'

Sigh.

[Barry]

TIC, a 2009 traffic violation on a 2011 issued license! I actually thought all fines need to be paid in order to be able to transfer a bike to another owner, guess not then!?

Don't worry about those points too much, I found it's not easy to collect points so far. Just checked again and still no fine after 4 months and almost 10.000 km!

[Lao Jia Hou]

Yeah - that is one of the things that happens at the inspection place - they check for fines and, if there are any, they have to be cleared before they will pass the vehicle inspection. I suppose if the bike was transferred in the first 2 years of the bike's life, the violation somehow flew under the radar. Oh, but wait - if it also got dinged for a missed inspection ... should not have been transferable until inspections were up-to-date.

Barry, glad you've avoided collecting any points - me too (fingers crossed). But a few riding buddies haven't been so lucky. Nevertheless, TIC, and for an "administrative fee" someone else will put those points on their license (yes, you can actually do that here). I also heard a rumor just last week that foreigners have their entire point tally cleared every year, because our passport numbers (which are also our DL numbers) don't match the computer input field (Chinese ID Card numbers) to carry the points over. Not sure about that one, or if it is true, how long it will last before the system glitch is fixed.

[td_ref]

wow, that warns everyone who intend to buy cheap 2nd hands.
What if bike had criminal record on it, they also could hide that from you too. eek2:

[GJN]

The bike (herein referred to as Wendy) is registered to a company outside the 4th ring rd, so when its 'sold' to a new owner, there isn't really a transfer process. You just accept the blue and green books, keys, pay, and hope for the best. At least I am finally 100% legal. 1000rmb seems like a cheap price to pay to remove the prospect of the 5-0 impounding my Wendy. I like to ride my Wendy every day, and the thought of her being chained up in a police station by strangers without me their to protect her and tuck her in at night scares me. Well, time to check out from work. I have a date with Wendy.