Hey guys, I'm in a jam here... I need to know my options here. On November 7th I sold my work truck to some kid in the Naval Academy. He asked if he could use my plates to get the truck back to his school, because they would tow an untagged vehicle on the property. So I said he could use them until his new ones came in. Well, today (January 13th) I get a parking ticket from Philidelphia for $56 from those tags. I call and they verified the tags match the registration... He hasent even switched the title yet!!!! Here's the bad part... We took the truck to the notary to get the title and bill of sale notarized, and I left my copy of the bill of sale in the truck. He said, " no big deal" he would put it in with the tags. Now I have no proof that I sold the truck. The notary doesnt keep records, I called. I tried to call the guy (I saved his number) and I have his email still so I emailed him. Its his Navy email, so I doubt he can change that to avoid me. Its his full rank and name. So, all I have is his Name, phone number and email. What can I do? Is this enough info for the police, and can I even call the police??? Or am I just as much to blame here?

This happens all the time - most states have an affidavit form that you fill out stating that you did in fact sell the vehicle, to whom, and on what date. A copy of the bill of sale would have been nice. How did he pay? Did you deposit all the money in your bank account that would show a deposit for that amount on or around that date? Anything you can come up with to support your claim would be helpful.

Looks like it's still your truck. Hope you have extra keys and drive it home for $56.

Obviously you should have kept a copy of the documentation. Disclaimer: what follows is an opinion, and I am not a lawyer.

If the registration still has not changed (knowing it takes time for the ticket to arrive by mail), then the truck is registered to you.

There is one avenue you could also use if he refuses to contact you -- contact the commander of the Naval Academy and ask for their help. Tell them the situation, and that you would appreciate their help in resolving the situation amicably. I don't think it would go over well that one of their students is breaking the law by not registering a vehicle, nor that their failure is now causing legal trouble for you.

Not having been a student at one of the service academies, I can't tell you what the implications would be to the purchaser -- maybe nothing happens, maybe he gets a slap on the wrist, maybe he's expelled. Before you take this route, maybe one last call with a "respond or I send a copy of the e-mail thread to the commander" line will do the trick.

My $0.02.

+1

and he should chip in the money for your ticket

something similar happened to me. Their insurance agent was basically threatening me about the car used in a hit and run. I told him he could talk to my insurance company. same company. never heard anything about it again. good luck with yours.

This is right on. Having been in the military I can tell you with certainty that if you contact his chain of command on this issue, he will find himself in a real tight spot. I agree that a warning should be sent first but then you need to follow through all the way.

He emailed me back last night, and explained himself... It wasnt right, but he did apologize. He also Paypal me $56 last night to cover the ticket. He said it was over christmas break and he drove it to a family friends shop for tires and some other preventive maintenance parts. It sat in a no parking zone. He said my tags are on the way back too, he said the paperwork has all been transfered. So, as for now, we're good.

Good thing he owned up to it.