I just went through **** in Travis county (Austin). The tax office sent me to the Dept of Motor vehicles saying I had to get a bonded title. When I presented my paperwork to the Department of Motor Vehicles I could see the smoke coming out of their ears, their minds were blown. They were completely confused. They refused to give me the paperwork needed to get a bonded title. They said only the supervisor knows how to do that. I asked them if they have ever read transportation code 501-504. They just looked at me. So their entire job is based around these codes and nobody in this office has read them. Anyway I went back 8 more times and every time the "Supervisor" wasn't in. Finally I got someone to call the main office and they came back with an answer that says because it doesn't have a 17 digit VIN I can only title it but not register it, because it doesn't meet the FVSS. Well I showed them that 30 fire departments were using these as Brush Trucks in the state of Texas and explained that there is no federal exemption for fire departments and either they give me the title and registration or they need to pull the registration for these fire departments. Then I told them before you come back and say "Well these are exempt plates" That doesn't matter. I'm a fire fighter and a fire truck has to meet the federal safety standard ohh and these trucks were handed out by the Texas Forestry Service (another state agency). So either the Forestry Service is handing out illegal vehicles or these are legal vehicle and if they are then my truck should be registered. So, they finally relented and gave me my title. From there I went back to the Tax office where I presented my case and had the application printed and filled out for the registration of a military vehicle (which they have never seen before) and I had my bonded title. So they call the department of Motor Vehicles who then told them I couldn't register this vehicle. However, I showed the Tax office the code 504.502. They said they will register it but that their software wouldn't allow them put the stencil numbers as the license plate because the numbers on the vehicle had 9 numbers and the electronic form only allowed for 7 numbers. So, they brought me into an office and called some supervisor at the Department of Motor Vehicles and he asked: Asked does he have insurance "Yes" does he have a bill of sale "Yes" does he have is Title "Yes" Does he have an VFT-135 (appraisal) "Yes", Does he have and inspection "Yes". Okay, "Then register his vehicle". Then the people at the tax office said but the number on the truck won't fit in the screen. He said "then issue him a Military Vehicle Plate." At this point I wasn't about to argue. It is registered as an FMV and I have to attach a plate. I'll go back in a year and rub off a couple of the stenciled letters and get the plate requirement removed.
