As far as the CHP and the dealer feeling the need to step up and protect mankind, I think it could go either way. But if your friend is a sympathetic victim and the case gets some visibility, that could help. Does one of the local news shows have one of those consumer advocate people? The story might have a bit of news appeal, since you could use the visual of a Hummer to stir anger & fear. Go to the news people in CA, since the dealer in Reno probably won’t be one of their advertisers.
Nevada has sales tax, and requires that it be paid for dealer sales. And used to require it for private sales. From here:
From personal recollection, there’s no identifying number on new-car temporary tags or taped-to-the-window permit which can be read at a distance. There is a paper tag for the license plate area but its most prominent feature is the date when the tag expires.
And it’s personal state income tax that Nevada doesn’t have.
I stand corrected.
About 20 years ago here in California there was a scam where people were buying expensive cars in a different county then where they lived (Different counties have different tax rates here in California) to save on the sales tax.
The DMV caught on and started sending out tax bills. Pissed a bunch of people off that thought they had pulled a fast one on the tax collector.
IIRC Nevada’s registration fees are less than California’s. I recall I had a customer that had his cars registered in Nevada. He claimed he did this because of the lower fees.
This seems to be a key factor here. Your friend wasn’t injured and will be out of pocket little or no money. Why does she even want to track the guy down?
If she sues, she might get the replacement value of the car, less the 1/3 she’d have to pay to a lawyer. But then she’d have to give all of that money to the insurance company. *E.g. *http://www.insurance.wa.gov/factsheets/factsheet_detail.asp?FctShtRcdNum=45
Is she looking for the guy for some sort of personal confrontation or revenge?