Help Me Hank: Help Me Hank! License plate problem

Running a red light. Speeding. Blowing through a stop sign. When the sirens sound, you usually know why.

But Daniel Walker, 22, driving back to his home in New Hampshire, was baffled when he saw the blue lights.

Hank Phillippi Ryan
"Were you doing anything wrong?"

Daniel Walker
"I wasn't doing anything wrong."

Even more surprising, what the officer told him he was doing wrong.

Daniel Walker
"I'm operating a motor vehicle without a valid registration."

What? Daniel was confused. He'd just bought his car at a New Hampshire dealer, so he was using New Hampshire 20 day temporary plates.

Hank Phillippi Ryan
"This was valid?"

Daniel Walker
"It was completely valid."

But Wellesley police insisted the plates weren't good in Massachusetts and slapped Daniel with a $100 fine. Then, they had a tow truck take his car away.

Hank Phillippi Ryan
"What did you think?"

Daniel Walker
"I just thought how is this happening to me."

A ticket and a $275 tow. He knew he'd been driving legally, but to fight the ticket, he'd have to make the two hour trek to Dedham court.

Daniel Walker
"I decided to go with 'Help Me Hank.'"

First, we called the Massachusetts Registry.

Hank Phillippi Ryan
"It says New Hampshire temporary registration. He's from New Hampshire."

And they confirmed that New Hampshire residents can use valid New Hampshire temporary plates in Massachusetts.

So, then we called Wellesley police.

Hank Phillippi Ryan
"Why wouldn't this be perfectly legal in Massachusetts?"

They agreed it was a mistake.

So finally we called the Dedham courthouse to make sure the ticket could be dismissed without Daniel making that interstate trek.

But one more glitch -- that expensive tow. Daniel didn't do anything wrong, so he shouldn't be stuck paying a $275 fee.

We called Wellesley town lawyers, and they agreed and instantly sent Daniel this apology letter and this refund check.

Now, Daniel's back on the road, all that money he spent for a ticket and tow he never should have gotten is back in his wallet.

Daniel Walker
"Oh, it's awesome because, I couldn't have afforded it."

Remember, if you get a violation you think is just wrong you should still follow the appeal instructions on the back of the ticket because that preserves your rights.

(Copyright (c) 2006 Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)