Illegal Tags?

[Taco Dog]

I have a question that I have wondered about for a long time. How do so many DC residents and businesses get by without transferring or registering their cars and trucks in Ford County?

I recently noticed that Eddie Estes of Western KS Manufacturers Assn. (3-I Show) is driving around in a vehicle with out of state plates. Their office is in DC and Eddie lives here, so why shouldn't they have Ford County plates?

Other businesses I have noticed doing this are Gary Fry of Raymond James Financial Advisors (Minnesota plates), Pella Windows (Reno County plates),
Crop Quest (Gray County and Grant County plates), and BC/BS (Shawnee County plates). This doesn't even include all of the personal vehicles that have out of state tags, or tags from other counties. I know good and well that many of these people are not just visiting here.

What is the law on vehicle registrations? It looks like this would be a good source of revenue for the county, if they could get these vehicles tagged in Ford County.

[dodgehighforeve]

Legally, from what I remember reading on the state website, a person can legally register a car in any county that they own a buisness, or house. For those larger buisness's, if they are company cars, they can be registered wherever they have an office, but most likely, where ever the home office is, or, wherever the vehicle was originally purchased, but may have been moved to a different branch.

However, there are many people that will register a vehicle at a family members address, just for the tax savings. This, I believe, is illegal.

Here are the faq's from the state website. Kansas Department of Revenue - Frequently Asked Questions - Motor Vehicles - Titles and Registrations

[Made in the USA]

Texas tags alot too around town, cause there is no property tax in Texas!

Let's see, all these "high rollers" with illegal tags------------but, just let you or I try it, and bammm, off to jail with OJ!!

[Monster]

Around town I sometimes see cars with expired 30 day tags.

I have (twice) in the past called these in to the DCPD, and even offered to continue following the car until such time as an officer can join the 'pursuit', only to be told that "no officers are available at this time".

This is one of the many things that sticks in my throat. If I have to pay $700 in property taxes a year for my vehicles why should others be allowed to drive around with expired tags? And why, as a law abiding citizen, when I see an infraction of the law and report it, do I get the feeling that the police have better things to do than actually enforcing the law?

I'm not disrespecting the police of this town, or their profession, quite the opposite in fact. I know that they have an important and thankless job to do, and I have the utmost respect for that. I also know that expired tags is way down on the list of law enforcement priorities given the problems that this town has, but perhaps one of the lawmen on here can advise me on what the correct procedure should be next time I happen upon such an occurence?

[HeddaLettuce]

Not sure about all the vehicles you have mentioned - but it may depend on where the vehicle is "owned". Like the Crop Quest ones. I think those guys buy their own trucks - so if the consultant lived in Gray or Grant Co. - their vehicle would be licensced there. They might be in DC at the office a lot.

Same for the Pella truck - it might be a corporate truck out of Hutch?

[retired]

In response to the illegal tags. It is correct, if it is a company vehicle they tag it where the main office is or any of their offices are. If personal vehicle it does not matter who the owner is or who is driving it. By law the vehicle needs to be reg. where the vehicle is house at. If a brother who lives in Texas loaned the car to me and I live and drove it in Dodge City then I would be required to reg. it in Ford County.

For the person who called in the expired tags. Does the dispatcher ask you if you can identify the driver and the make, model and color of the vehicle. If they do not I think they should. If you can ID the person, with the exception of 30 day tags, the officers can usually find the vehicle later and issue a ticket. You will need to go to court if they plead not guilty and testify againt them.

Many officers do like to write tickets for expired tags because usually there is more that is illegal with the vehicle.

[K C Muffin]

I see a lot of expired temp tags up here, too. Even my own on my new car - instead of 30 days to get the right paperwork to buy permanent tags, it was closer to 45. I had called and received an extension, but the tag still showed expired. Maybe that's why the police don't want to pull over the expired temp tags - but there are folks up here that have managed to drive their vehicles over a year past their registration due date. Don't know how that happens, but it does.

[Made in the USA]

Over the years, I have known several individuals with many cars, but only one tag!! Affix with velcro, and the changing is easy!

[Highwayman]

Originally Posted by Made in the USA

Over the years, I have known several individuals with many cars, but only one tag!! Affix with velcro, and the changing is easy!

Well darn it MIT, you can only drive one at a time.