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More steer clear of vehicle late fees
By MARC KOVAC
COLUMBUS
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The public furor over late fees on driver’s licenses and vehicle registrations has quieted in recent months, as more Ohioans make their payments on time and avoid the extra $20 surcharge.
“That was always our hope, that the more people became aware of that change, they would be able to avoid the fee,” said Lindsey Bohrer, spokeswoman for the state BMV.
But through the first eight months of the law change, the state did collect more than $16 million from 818,429 individuals who forgot to send in their checks or visit their local BMVs before the deadline.
Last year, lawmakers OK’d a number of fee changes, increasing the cost of vision screenings, temporary license plates, personalized plates and commercial plates. The changes included a new $20 late fee for Ohioans who are more than seven days late in registering their vehicles or renewing their driver’s licenses.
Lawmakers OK’d the fee increases to help balance the budgets for the Ohio Department of Public Safety, the Ohio Highway Patrol and related agencies.
Notices about the new late charge have been included in registration renewals due after Oct. 1. But many residents were unaware of the late fee and were under the false impression that they could submit registrations anytime during their birth month. The license must be renewed no later than seven days after the birth date to avoid the late fee. Likewise, vehicle owners have only one week after their registration expires in which to pay registration fees and avoid the $20 late fine.
Notices of the late fee are included in registration information sent by the state to vehicle and license owners. Additionally, BMV offices have posted notices about the fees.
“Hopefully, through all those methods, people are now more aware,” Bohrer said.
Through the end of last month, 570,545 late fees were paid on vehicle registrations and 196,282 paid for driver’s licenses, according to the BMV.
But the total number of late fees paid has decreased steadily over the past three months, from 109,440 total in March to 85,546 in May. More than 124,000 late fees were collected in October, the first month of collections.
The late fees prompted an outcry and numerous calls and e-mails to lawmakers. In response, state Rep. Ron Amstutz, a Republican from Wooster, introduced legislation to eliminate the fee.
That bill has not yet had a hearing, and Amstutz said he is not receiving as many calls from constituents on the issue as he was earlier this year. But he said he’s still pursuing the issue.