Sen. Williams wants 30-day ‘temp tag’ extension

While many Missouri residents can secure financing and a down payment to purchase a vehicle, the burden of paying the accompanying sales tax can lead to a temporary license tag expiring.

People who have recently purchased a vehicle and are having trouble paying the sales tax could get a single extension on temporary license plates through legislation sponsored by state Sen. Brian Williams, D-University City.

Senate Bill 1503 authorizes the Missouri Department of Revenue to reissue a temporary tag one time, allowing purchasers to obtain a title, register the vehicle and meet the requirements to permanently license a vehicle.

Currently, an auto buyer has 30 days from the purchase date to obtain a permanent license. This proposal would allow an additional 30-day extension.

“As the price of new and used vehicles continues to skyrocket, I hope this legislation will provide needed relief to taxpayers, allowing more time to pay these increased sales tax bills,” said Sen. Williams.

“We have seen a dramatic increase in traffic stops and police encounters related to expired tags. My hope is this allows more people to keep their transportation and more officers to focus on bigger issues impacting our city.”

James Clark, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis vice president of Public Safety, supports the proposed 30-day extension – but favors pushing it to 90 days.

“This has really become a public safety crisis,” Clark said.

“Vehicles with expired tags are more likely to be stolen; more likely to be used in a crime; more likely to be illegally sold or end up in a ‘chop shop.’”

Clark said he knows of several families that “fell on hard times” and paying the personal property tax required to receive a non-temporary tag “becomes a major burden.’

“We do not want to remove accountability. But you see hundreds of cars with expired tags. We can’t ignore the problem. How do we address it?

Clark favors an amnesty mitigation program like ones used to address traffic and child support warrants.

“You could bring your expired tags and proper identification. You would then receive a temporary tag of a certain color that would note the 90-day extension,” Clark said.

He said the original 30 days plus a 90-day extension would be enough for a motorist to find the resources to get a vehicle properly licensed.

The Missouri Association of Auto Dealers recently estimated up to $60 million of taxes on vehicle sales were delinquent in the state.

State Rep. Brad Pollitt sponsored a bill that would allow extreme measures to combat Missouri drivers with expired temporary vehicle tags.

While the bill has not been passed, it could make it legal for law enforcement agents to stop, inspect, or detain a person “solely to determine whether a temporary permit is current.”

If the tag is deemed expired, the agent would be allowed to seize the tag and impose a fine of $200 for the violation.