I moved to NC about 4 years ago and brought a 79' dodge truck with me.  I registered it but never had it inspected since it had no horn, backup lights or e-brake.  I had a 30 mile commute to work.  I got pulled over one morning at 5:30 doing 70 in a 45.  I explained to the cop that I was on my way to work, and he let me go.  He never checked for an inspection sticker, license or registration.  I figured the doughnut shop was about to open.  Talk about luck...
    About a year later, I had let the truck go for a scirocco 16V.  I was headed home from a 12 hour day a day at work and enjoying the trip to say the least.  There was a 10mph curve about 1/2 mile from my house, well that night I decided to see how accurate the caution sign was.  I raced into the corner (about 30 Mph ) and downshifted and cut the wheel, almost broadsiding a crown vic....  Sure enough, unmarked car.  I thought for sure I was busted.  I'd owned the car for about 6 months.  It had an NC tag with no inspection, and a  2 year old west Virginia registration sticker in the window.  Somehow I managed to get off that one too.  I had always heard NC troopers were tough, I guess I lucked out.
    I also drove my 84' vanagon for about 2 weeks with nothing but an expired NY plate on it...but it's all ok now.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: John Flaherty 
  To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
  Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2001 5:49 PM
  Subject: Re: driving legal

  Yeah, drove mine, registered but no inspection sticker, from September 2000 through March of this year. It needed a lot of front end work, (ball joints, steering rack, stabilizer links) and some other things. Every time I had the money the wife's "dependable" Japanese car would break down. (Clutch, ignition module). That's the scenario that led to my van's name.

  Got away with it, but I know how you feel about not wincing every time you see a cop.

  John Flaherty
  Portland, Maine
  '84 GL "insufficient Funds"
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: sg 
    To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
    Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2001 2:07 PM
    Subject: driving legal

    hey folks,

    ive finally gotten my westie legal(registered and title transfered), after owning and driving it for nine months.  feels amazing.  i dont have to wince or reflexively take my foot off the gas pedal every time i pass a cop ...

    anybody else driven their vanagons somewhat less than legally for any long length of time?  anything come of it?

    -steve&buster

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