Vehicle possession...

T

the tone

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May 27, 2012
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What are the rules for having a car at USAFA? I know it must be in their last 2 years, but I need to get the car up there in May and I know they can't have it at that time. If I store it at another person's house and not give the cadet the key, is that considered playing it by the book? I'm not trying, nor do I want to, circumvent any rules or regulations, but I have no other time to bring that car up there except in the first week of May. Anyone ever been in this predicament? Thanks.:thumb:
 
I don't know definitively because I haven't quite gotten to the car ownership phase yet, but I think you'll be fine, especially if the car isn't on base...the only people I know who have gotten in trouble for having cars too early have been people who have tried to keep the car somewhere in the cadet area as sophomores, etc.
 
The regulations state you arent allowed to "maintain" a car... but there are ways around it. The only way i've heard is if you live in CO Springs and you transfer the car to your parents: then you always have it on sponsor visits (I.E. your parents) and can take it out when you are signed out. But that's really it.
 
BlahuKahuna said:
It'd be cool though if the cadet didn't even have the keys until junior year, yeah?
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I've never had a problem borrowing a car or getting a ride when i needed one. Quite frankly, there's no point on owning one until junior year. You don't have the pay or privileges to maintain a car.

I'd advise just leaving the car at home. It's too much of a hassle.
 
BlahuKahuna said:
It'd be cool though if the cadet didn't even have the keys until junior year, yeah?
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Actually sooner than that. After the Firsties graduate the 3 degrees become 2nd degrees. Lots of 2 degrees have cars during the Summer.
 
aglages said:
Actually sooner than that. After the Firsties graduate the 3 degrees become 2nd degrees. Lots of 2 degrees have cars during the Summer.
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+1 :thumb:

DS (will be a C2C this May) is planning on getting his car first thing this summer. In fact him and I are doing the research/shopping now.

There are so many ways to break the rules at USAFA including C3C having cars. In fact, there is an unofficial C3C parking lot. But why not just follow the rules? I am aware of a C3C who was allowed to have a car because it was donated to him and his family are missionaries out of the country so there was no easy way for him to store it or have someone else own it. I don't think he drives it though.
 
I also know someone who was booted for honor after lying about having a car at the academy.

So, don't be stupid about things.
 
As I mentioned, I'm not trying to circumvent any rules with this. I have to bring the car up the first of May, and I realize he can't, and won't, have access to the car until after the graduation ceremony. I just wanted to make sure that's possible. I guess USAFA can't really keep me from bringing my own car into Colorado and leaving it in a location of my choice, I suppose.
 
the tone said:
As I mentioned, I'm not trying to circumvent any rules with this. I have to bring the car up the first of May, and I realize he can't, and won't, have access to the car until after the graduation ceremony. I just wanted to make sure that's possible. I guess USAFA can't really keep me from bringing my own car into Colorado and leaving it in a location of my choice, I suppose.
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You know that the academy can provide a plane ticket to the academy, right? You can also contact the academy and try and work it out.
 
He'll be a C2C this summer. He can have the car; he just can't have it the first of May when I need to bring it. I'll assume he becomes a C2C when the graduation hats fly.
 
As a parent of a recent grad (2013) this issue arises every year. I am sure that you can find somewhere to park this car for the month of May until your (new) C2C is allowed to drive it -- even if you have to rent a parking space somewhere in COS for the one month time period. Be aware that getting a legal parking sticker for the car at the Academy may take your cadet some extra time past graduation -- I know my daughter had to wait for a bit (into early June of her Junior year) until she was able to get her official, legal parking pass. A simple solution -- see if your cadet knows a cadet from the Denver-Colorado Springs corridor -- if yes, you may be able to arrange to park the car for this short period of time at the local cadet's house. So long as your cadet does not park the car on base until legally able to do so, this problem should be fairly simple to work out. I have heard of cadets in my daughter's class who had illegal cars in COS throughout C3C year -- some of those who were shortsighted enough to park the cars on campus (or in the parking lot just outside the North Academy gate) got caught. I know of one situation in which the cadet when caught was required to turn over his keys, and all spare keys, to his AOC for "safekeeping" until it was legal for him to have the car -- this cadet got caught because the car had out of state license plates and was registered in his name -- it wasn't that difficult for the Academy parking office to track down the name of the registered owner and match it to the cadet from the license plates and VIN on the car.
 
I'm a bit confused regarding the 'must' bring in May. There are usually other options such as shipping the car or having your cadet drive it back after their summer break. However, you know your constraints better than I do. Those are alternatives, but they may not work in your situation. You might also want to ask your cadet what they think the best way to handle this is. They have more insight regarding the current protocols of Academy life.

I just want to be clear regarding my 'tone' (no pun intended). My purpose is to only offer some alternatives and NOT to be snarky in my response. I meant it when I wrote that only you know the constraints of your situation. I'm sure you'll get this squared away quickly. Best wishes. :thumb:
 
Another question about the cars???

My husband is driving my older son (not a cadet) to the Univ. of Colorado in Boulder around May 15th for a 6 week prep class for medical school. He was planning on leaving the car in Colorado (that we intend to give to our C3C- who will then be a C2C) so that he will have it this summer- while he is a cadre. What is the actual date....when the soon-to-be C2C's can have their car and get the permit to park the car on the USAFA campus?
 
Per my earlier post -- the getting of the parking permit for new C2Cs may take some time -- that permit will not necessarily be available right after graduation. Your son should check with his AOC and see if the AOC can give him a date -- but my daughter (a couple of years ago) had to wait into early June to get her permit. Maybe that was just a glitch that year, maybe it was her squadron, maybe it was some other reason. Boulder, where your older son will be, is a tough place to park -- many residential areas have restricted, resident only parking. But maybe your older son can find somewhere to park the car until younger son can get parking sticker. It's not that far from Boulder to COS (90 minutes at most).
 
Yeah, best thing to do would just be to contact them and relay your dilemma. I'm sure you will work something out. Best of luck
 
Reviving the old thread. When cadets bring the car for the remaining 2 years, do they have to transfer license to Colorado license? I presume so, otherwise eventually state inspection will expire. Any taxes cadets paid in Colorado on car registration, or yearly? VA has relatively heavy burden on car posession and requires yearly tax which is not insignificant, every year safety inspection and every 2 year emission inspection, so I presume Colorado is easier on ownership and it would be easier to transfer to Colorado license plate, but not sure what happens in this case with drivers license (can keep at original state or not), or insurance (can keep student on parents insurance or not since its another state).
 
They do not have to register it in Colorado unless they want to do so (the cadet will have to be the registered owner of the vehicle to do this). Our son kept Wisconsin tags on his truck until he moved to Texas after graduation since Wisconsin is fairy cheap to register. They can also keep their original state's driver's license if they want. As far as insurance, the cheaper option for us was for our son to get his own policy through USAA. I believe it was about $32 a month for him to have his own insurance through them vs. $800/yr. to stay on our policy. Once again, they need to be the registered owner to get the USAA insurance.

Stealth_81
 
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