ST. CHARLES, Mo. – The New York Times recently discussed how St. Charles and other cities in the U.S. are addressing concerns regarding expired temporary license tags.
New York Times reporter Michael Corkery wrote an article on April 19 titled “Fake Tags Add to Real Chaos on American Roads.”
St. Charles mayor Dan Borgmeyer expressed to the New York Times that there is a significant breakdown in automotive law and order when it comes to expired temporary tags. His office received over 4,000 complaints regarding expired temporary tags last year.
According to the New York Times, many photos sent to the St. Charles mayor were forwarded to the police. Officers visited the home addresses associated with the temporary tags of St. Charles residents and issued tickets when necessary.
Last August, Borgmeyer initiated a program where people could submit photos of cars with expired temporary tags on St. Charles streets to his office. This initiative has enhanced enforcement around expired temporary tags.
Around the same time, Missouri approved a new law allowing auto dealers to collect sales tax at the point of purchase and send it to the state. However, it may take up to two years for the law to be fully implemented, so temporary tags remain an issue for now.
Concerns over expired temporary tags escalated during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a backlog of vehicles with expired tags in Missouri, particularly in the St. Louis area.
Until the new law is fully in effect, car buyers in Missouri receive temporary tags with the expectation that they will pay sales tax and receive license plates within 30 days. Some drivers may choose to drive with expired temporary tags due to the high cost of sales tax.
Borgmeyer’s program aims to reduce the number of drivers with temporary tags in St. Charles and enhance enforcement on violations.
The New York Times highlighted an incident where Borgmeyer took action against a driver with expired temporary plates, leading to the driver obtaining proper license plates.
Besides St. Charles, efforts to address temporary tags were also reported in Portland, New Jersey, and Washington D.C.
