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Committee weighs banning online temporary plates; Legislative Council says draft already removes online issuance
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Summary
Members discussed enforcement and statutory options after staff reported issues with online temporary registration plates and declining inspection sticker use; Legislative Council said the working draft would eliminate online issuance but lacks outreach and enforcement language.
The Transportation Committee on April 20 discussed temporary registration plates, enforcement options and draft statutory language that staff say would remove the online issuance mechanism.
Tammy Minor, Legislative Council (speaker 2), told the committee that the working draft under consideration would "eliminate the section that'll allow the online issuance of temporary registration plates, and update the related statutes," but she said the draft does not include outreach or enforcement provisions. Minor also advised the committee it might need language distinguishing dealer-issued temporary plates (used at dealerships when a new vehicle is bought) from online print-at-home temporary plates to avoid enforcement confusion.
Committee members described operational complications policing certain temporary plates and out-of-state plates. Committee member (speaker 4) said the agency had "stopped issuing" certain online temporary registrations effective January 1 and recommended a public information period followed by enforcement by DMV enforcement staff. He noted that DMV has enforcement capacity and proposed PSAs prior to an enforcement window.
Chair (speaker 1) asked staff to schedule Damien, MPD and Deputy Commissioner Russo to appear to advise on the draft statutory language and enforcement consequences, and to bring recommended adjustments back to the committee. The committee did not adopt any new statute at the meeting.
Why it matters: online temporary plates and enforcement practices affect compliance, revenue and equity for vehicle owners; distinguishing dealer-issued temporary plates from online print-at-home plates matters for practical enforcement in the field.
Next steps: committee staff will schedule DMV leadership and MPD to appear and will request JFO to provide related trend data; committee members indicated they may incorporate language from the working draft into the miscellaneous motor vehicle bill under development.
