What should have been a routine test drive for Daniel Rocha turned into a surreal legal nightmare.
On a quiet day in Prosper, Texas, Rocha stepped into Longo Toyota, hoping to test drive a truck. But instead of cruising the streets, he found himself pulled over by the police, ticket in hand, for an infraction he couldn’t have seen coming: “Operating a Vehicle Without License Plates.”
The vehicle, provided by the dealership for the test drive, was missing its rear license plate.
“When he stopped me, he asked for my driver’s license and said, ‘The reason why I stopped you is because you don’t have a license plate in the back,’” Rocha recalled, according to WFAA
But it was the officer’s next comment that floored Rocha.
He said the officer told him this wasn’t the first time this had happened. In fact, it was part of a larger issue. Local dealerships had repeatedly failed to properly display temporary tags on test-driven vehicles. Rather than fining the dealerships, the police had decided to make an example out of customers like Rocha. “In order for us to make [the dealerships] abide, we’re going to start citing the customers,” the officer reportedly told him.
The Prosper Police Department later confirmed this, according to WFAA, stating that it’s illegal to drive a vehicle without properly displayed tags, even during a test drive. “Under state law, vehicle operators are held responsible for any citations,” the department clarified, leaving Rocha to shoulder the burden for an issue that was clearly out of his control.
The dealership, Longo Toyota of Prosper, expressed regret over the incident. In a statement, they emphasized their commitment to safety and assured the public that they were working to resolve the problem. “Safety is a top priority at Longo Toyota of Prosper, and we are dedicated to providing a secure environment for everyone,” their statement read. They also reiterated their dedication to the local community and noted that this was the first time such an issue had occurred at their dealership. While the dealership did offer to reimburse Rocha for the ticket, Rocha claims they later adjusted the vehicle’s price estimate to cover the cost of the fine, a point the dealership’s general manager denied.