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Governor to decide whether to eliminate ticketing of registration theft victims

April 28, 2005
By: Victor Roberto
State Capital Bureau
Links: SB 378

The Missouri legislature sent the governor a bill that would make it harder for drivers without registration tabs to get tickets.

Victor Roberto has more from the state Capitol.

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The issue was brought to the legislature when Senator Maida Coleman and Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder became victims of registration theft.

If you are pulled over for driving without registration stickers on your license plates, it would be easier to avoid a ticket.

Currently, police can ticket drivers whose registration tabs were stolen.

If the governor signs the bill, police would no longer be able to give those tickets out...and replacement tabs would be free.

The bill's sponsor and strongest advocate is St. Louis City Democratic Senator Maida Coleman.

Coleman says the bill is especially important to drivers in urban areas.

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Contents: We, quite often, are victims of having our tabs stolen. I personally have had my tabs stolen off my license plate...twice.

Coleman says she doesn't know anyone opposed to the bill and that there is no downside.

From the state Capitol, I'm Victor Roberto.

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The decision whether to pass a bill helping vehicle registration theft victims is now up to the governor.

Victor Roberto has more from the state Capitol.

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The bill is the project of Democratic Senator Maida Coleman, whose own car registration tabs were stolen...twice.

Under current Missouri law, police can ticket drivers who are driving without registration stickers on their cars...even if they were stolen.

The legislature passed a bill that would stop police from issuing those tickets, and help those who were victims of theft.

Senator Coleman, from St. Louis City, says stolen tabs are in high demand in urban areas like hers.

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Contents: There's a big market for stealing these tabs and selling them on the black market because it implies that the car is properly registered.

Coleman says people who are victims of theft shouldn't have to pay for their tabs twice, so the bill would allow free replacement of the stolen tabs.

From the state Capitol, I'm Victor Roberto.