The state of California is out to get you

Anyone who watches the news or reads this fine paper will surely know the financial straits California, our neighbor to the west, has found themselves in. Having spent into oblivion on every social program imaginable, they most recently resorted to considering taxing everything but breathing ... and that can't be far behind.

Having escaped the People's Republic of California 15 years ago (I know, that still makes me an interloper), my side of the family only left a brother and mother. My wife, on the other hand, left enough relatives to form a small country. Being of Irish Catholic decent, there are five of six siblings, their prodigy, numerous aunts and uncles and myriad cousins, in-laws, etc.

On occasion, the better half visits this relative or that, for a day or two, by driving her "gas guzzling" SUV to the various communities, north and south, throughout the people's republic. One recent visit lasted about 24 hours, when she went to her sister's home in the San Jose area, to attend a rock concert of some sort with her. Being her senior of more than a decade, I obviously elected to stay in the free state of Nevada.

Said visit took place in early April and, like I said, only lasted about 24 hours. Imagine her surprise when a month and a half later, she received an official letter from the California Highway Patrol.

Frightened she had failed to pay a toll, or was photographed running a red light by their famous spy cameras, she reluctantly opened said letter.

Right below the letterhead and after the date, appears a file number, then her name and address, with a case number, type of vehicle, year of vehicle, license number, license state and VIN number appearing to the right of that. Pretty scary, huh?

I have to quote the letter here, because to paraphrase wouldn't do it justice:

"Every year the State of California loses revenue from California residents who unlawfully register their vehicles in other states. Often, they fail to immediately register their vehicle in California when they become gainfully employed (a number shrinking by the minute in the Golden State ... sorry, I couldn't help but interject) or establish residency as defined by the California Vehicle Code. This occurs when people are: unaware of California registration laws, evading payment of fees and taxes or unable to comply with California air pollution laws.

"A preliminary investigation shows that you, as the registered owner or person in possession of this vehicle, may be a resident of California. If your registration of this vehicle was to circumvent California laws, you could be prosecuted for a misdemeanor violation and conviction could result in fines up to $1,000 and six months in jail.

This criminal action would be in addition to back payment of California registration fees, use taxes and penalties for the vehicle. Additionally (if that weren't enough), other State agencies could cause the issuance of civil liens against your assets for the recovery of outstanding fees."

There is still one more long paragraph I won't bore you with, explaining how one might go about registering said vehicle. It is signed by commander of the San Jose area. Cathy Wayne. My wife called the person suggested in the threatening letter (long distance charges apply) and explained she is indeed a resident of a free sate, not the socialist republic of California. Her being polite, politically correct and demure, she did not elect to use the same language I would employ. Having accepted her explanation via phone, without any formal confirmation or identification. she was instructed to simply discard said letter into the trash.

Not being one to leave well enough alone that ends well, I feel a deep need and desire to pose a few questions at this juncture:

1. How much did it cost the State of California to have the Commander of a Highway Patrol division create, sign and post such a letter?

2. What might the trooper have been doing of real use, instead of running an out of state license for no good reason?

3. If running the license, after noting the make, model and vin number of the vehicle, clearly showed registration in another state, including the residential address (remember, they mailed the letter to our home address), why even bother with any attention or action at all?

4. If a party was visiting from out of state, with the intent of possibly relocating to California (hey, some people are just crazy!), how interested would they be after being hassled for just driving by?

So, fair warning my friends. If you are considering a drive through California for any reason, be prepared to be threatened, harassed and/or spied upon, simply because you have an out of state license on your vehicle.

Thank you so very much for allowing us to relocate to Nevada. I promise we left any semblance of Californiaitis behind and will try very hard not be re-infected.

Rick Campbell is a Gardnerville resident and Carson Valley publisher.