Richmond man says stolen license plates led to hundreds in fines

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) -You may want to think twice about where you store those expired license plates you no longer need.

One Richmond man had his tags stolen, allowing the crook to rack up tolls and hundreds of dollars worth of fines.

Joseph Jackson is understandably frustrated after receiving the bills for fines and unpaid violations, so he called 12 On Your Side for help.

“I’m responsible for all those different funds. It can affect my credit because this is going to collections,” he said.

51-year-old Jackson is demanding answers and accountability.

“Somebody got my tags, and that needs to stop,” he said.

After he says someone has been joyriding with his old and expired license plates.

“I have personalized tags on my truck. Okay. These tags haven’t been active since, I think, September of last year,” Jackson said.

Which are driving up the fines to the hundreds.

“It’s 300-some bucks that could have gone to a different bill. You know that I don’t necessarily have to just, you know, how would you feel if it’s all said and done?” he said.

This all started in October, when he was moving into a new apartment and his old plates went missing.

“Possibly I was back in force; somebody could have grabbed that. But, I don’t know whose car...their own? I don’t know why they’re there. I don’t know how they got, but I just know that somebody is costing me money with those tags,” Jackson said.

Soon after, the first unpaid toll violation came in, followed by a second, a third, a fourth, and a fifth and then the final notice for someone driving repeatedly in the early morning hours on Pocahontas Parkway.

The problem? That’s not his car!

Before he knew it, the unpaid toll violations were sent to a collections agency.

“I was confused. What the hell is this? I mean, I don’t drive. I haven’t had those tags in forever. I don’t drive on Pocahontas Parkway. I don’t remember the last time I’ve been on Pocahontas Parkway. And at that time of night, I’m usually at work,” Jackson said.

That’s when he took matters into his own hands.

“I reached out to Henrico, Richmond and Chesterfield, and they all told me the same,” Jackson said. “They all said it was an unfortunate incident. It happens too often. Not much they can do, but I just wanted to know if there was anything that I could do if I had a leg to stand on or whatever. Well, if I just have to eat this and just pay ‘em. If I can even pay ‘em now before they go to collections.”

And when that didn’t work, he called the 12 On Your Side Investigators.

When we contacted Pocohantas Parkway, the office manager said that because Jackson filed a police report in December telling them his tags were stolen, the only charges he was still receiving and responsible for were from Nov. 26 and 27, initially $5.75 each.

However, when the unpaid toll violation and admin fees are added, the total amounts to $317.25.

When pressed again about why he was responsible for the payments, she said it was because he was the registered owner of the plates.

The next day, Jackson said someone from Pocohantas Parkway called him and said his debt had decreased from $317.25 to $29.75.

“She reduced everything down to just the initial three offenses, and I don’t think it’s anything after November. $29.75 is a lot better than $317,” he said. “Do you think you could’ve done it without our help? I don’t think so. Thanks, guys.”

Virginia DMV says if you believe someone has stolen your license plates, you should contact police and file a police report.

Then contact DMV by emailing them at zerofraud@dmv.virginia.gov.