Thirteen years after leaving Danbury, Connecticut to return to the warmer climate of Southern California, a family found itself accused of owing $1200 in unpaid car taxes. Victoria and Jeff Goble only lived in Danbury for two years, but now the city has hired United Adjustment Corporation to force the couple to pay up.

"I was in shock. I couldn't believe it, not after 13 years," Victoria Goble told the Danbury News-Times. "At first I thought it was a scam or something. Then I saw the creditor was the Danbury tax collector."

The Gobles' crime was to move away in 1994 without obtaining the approval of the local tax man. The city claims that the couple should have paid the city $135.24 in 1994 for the privilege of owning a ten-year-old Chevrolet Blazer and a 1990 Honda Civic. By adding in a car tax for 1995, penalties and eighteen percent interest the city was able to bring the total bill to $1200.

The Gobles have no issue with paying the 1994 amount, but not thirteen years' worth of interest or car taxes from after they moved away. No past due bills from the tax collector ever made their way to the couple.

Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton told the News-Times that the city wants its money. In July, Danbury will join several other Connecticut cities in using license plate scanning cameras to seize cars and hold them until claimed back taxes of as little as $85 are paid. The money will be used to shore up the city budget.