UPDATE: Oklahoma City Police are urgently addressing a rising trend of drivers on the roads with expired tags. In a recent social media post, an officer confronted a driver whose registration had been out of date since May 2023. The officer stated, “It expired back in May of 2023, so you’re two years out of date,” while issuing a citation for the violation.
Current Oklahoma law grants a 30-day grace period for drivers to renew their registration. After that, they incur a fee of $1 per day, capping at $100. If the tags remain expired for more than 90 days, the vehicle risks being impounded.
Despite the grace period, the issue remains widespread. Just last month, Service Oklahoma reported registering 29,377 new vehicles and processing 174,000 registration renewals, yet expired tags continue to be a persistent problem.
In response, lawmakers recently explored tougher penalties for expired tags. Representative Ross Ford of Broken Arrow proposed a bill to reduce the impound period from 90 days to 60 days and to increase fines. However, the legislation failed to pass the House.
“We recognize it’s an issue,” said Cyndi Munson, Minority Leader. Munson highlighted that multiple factors contribute to the prevalence of expired tags, including the state’s notification system and potential affordability challenges for drivers. “It sounds like a notification issue. Maybe it’s an affordability issue. We don’t really know,” she added.
To address these challenges, the state has started offering two-year registration fees, which have gained popularity among many drivers looking for a more manageable option.
As police ramp up enforcement efforts, residents are urged to check their vehicle registration status immediately. With the potential for increased fines and impoundment looming, ensuring your tags are up to date could save you from costly penalties.
Stay tuned for more updates as this developing story unfolds.
