Thank you so much for taking the time to read our request. My partner and I are facing threats of our car being seized by MPD. We have exhausted all feasible options and need any help you are willing and able to give. We both rely on this car to get back and forth between 3 jobs, necessary errands, and community invovlement.

The Problem:

After years of "bad lemon" issues with purchasing cash/used cars, I was so excited to have leased my first new "off-the-lot" car, a 2015 Kia forte with no add-ons. Simple car with a $400/month note. I leased the car in my hometown, Little Rock, AR, but I was then and still am a Memphis resident. To my surprise and frustration, when I attempted to register my vehicle in Memphis, I was asked if I was prepared to pay the sales tax. I was definitely not able to come out of pocket for the estimated $1,840. Since then, I have tried saving the money but have not been able to do so quickly enough to avoid the several times I have been pulled over, cited, and fined. Once I met my amazing partner, he also took on responsibility for getting the car registered, only to face being pulled over, cited, and fined several times for a car that's not even in his name. At this point the amount we've collectively had to pay in fines and the constant stress of police encounters almost outweighs the funds we need to register the car. We've done what we can on our own. Now we are reaching out!

Steps We've Taken:

• Payday loans to pay fines and other unexpected emergencies
• Attempted to set up a payment plan with the county clerk: not possible. Must be paid in full before registering.
• Contacted the Department of Revenue about applying for a 30-day permit to drive unregistered while we raised funds: denied.
• Tried trading the car in in Memphis: denied for low trade value and no money down.
• Reached out to my finance company about refinancing the car to include the sales tax: redirected to the dealership that made the contract.
• Tried consulting the sales manager at the dealership I leased from on a trade in or refinancing: denied due to no "strong" cosigner or no money down, despite consistently paying my car note on time! (My identity was stolen in 2011 so I don't have great credit.)
• Tax Refunds: We both unfortunately do not garner large returns. My return last year was $2.

Every time we're pulled over, we're asked why we're still driving the car. We have to work and get by! The last time we we're pulled over and cited we were told that MPD can seize our car. We still owe on recent fines and are hoping to be able to take care of this before we are pulled over again, owe more to the city, or worse- losing the car or license.

Thank you so much for your donations and support!