The golden Kia
Sources: Missouri Motor Vehicle Bureau, Kansas Department of Revenue, state and federal courts records, interviews with former owners. Graphics reporting by Ken Bensinger and Doug Smith; illustrated by Lorena Iñiguez Elebee; animated by Lorena Iñiguez Elebee and Raoul Rañoa; edited by Les Dunseith, Robert Burns, John Corrigan and Steve Eames.
The view from Sacramento
For reporting and exclusive analysis from bureau chief John Myers, get our California Politics newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.