A word of caution to any U-Haul renters. Check your license plates. I am a Police Officer and have logged well over 100 tickets issued to U-Haul trucks/trailers. The tickets (no-points to violator/driver) were issued for NO LICENSE PLATES or EXPIRED LICENSE PLATES. - U-Haul will attach a white sticker to the rear, stating "Temporary License", and in marker pen write an isuue date, equipment number, and plate number. This is their own sticker, not a "Temporary License" issued by any government entity.in many cases, maybe the plate was lost that was supposed to have been on the equipment, but if you or I have a loss of our plates, we park the vehicle and go get a replacement... Oh but not U-Haul, they put the equipment back on the road, and assume that local cops (and even some troopers) will believe that the white sticker is just some other state's tempirary tag. I had originally just gave warnings, so it would not cost a renter fine money, but then found out that U-Haul will pay the fines. I cautioned each violater cited that they must get the money from U-Haul and pay the ticket themselves, and not to trust U-Haul because if not paid, the warrant and subsequent license suspension for non-payment will be on the violator. Many times I was called by the violator, thanking me, who told me they raised enough h*l that the rental was ultimately free also, because of their "hassle" with the cops.
Aside from NO PLATES, they used to rent out so much equipment with EXPIRED PLATES. Somehow after I, and I'm sure many coppers nationwide began a big ticket campaign against U-Haul trucks, they must have gotten into bed with someone in Arizona where they are based (maybe big political donations, because now, probably 95% of their trucks all have Arizona, NON-EXPIRING plates! What is this all about, can't tell you, but Arizona has lost big money by not making them renew annually, as well each other state, where many of their trucks are designated "local only", thus, here in Ohio, as an example, a truck may be used on our roads for several years, and Ohio never sees a cent from registration fees, only the sales tax from the rental. - So in cloing, I urge all who renta U-Haul to make sure the vehicle or trailer is street legal.
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