August 21, 2009
Police Chief Daniel Isom joins Gov. Nixon to kick off theft-resistant tabs pilot program in St. Louis
Gov. Nixon announces innovative pilot program to combat theft of license plate tabs from Missouri drivers
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Gov. Jay Nixon today announced the start of a pilot program aimed at stopping the theft of automobile license tabs from Missouri vehicles. The theft-resistant tab program will make theft of license plate tabs more difficult and less appealing to potential thieves by printing the unique vehicle license plate number directly on the tab.
"For too long, theft of vehicle license plate tabs has caused inconvenience for Missouri motorists and nuisances for Missouri police departments. But with our theft-resistant tabs pilot program, Missouri is taking an important step toward limiting this crime," Gov. Nixon said. "By printing license numbers on the tabs, thieves will have less incentive to steal tabs, and police will be able to more easily identify stolen tabs that are being used illegally."
The theft-resistant tab program makes several changes to vehicle license tabs. The primary change is the inclusion of the vehicle's individual license plate number in bold text on the tab. Tabs stolen from one vehicle and affixed to another will be clearly identifiable as stolen to law enforcement, as the numbers on the tab and license plate will not match. Additionally, the enhanced tabs will be pre-perforated and embedded with a watermark, making them difficult to remove from plates or to counterfeit.
Gov. Nixon was joined for the announcement of the theft-resistant tabs program by acting Director of the Department of Revenue, Alana Barragán-Scott and Chief Daniel Isom of the St. Louis Police Department. License tab theft has been particularly problematic in the city of St. Louis, and the tab initiative has been targeted in St. Louis for its pilot period. Gov. Nixon's announcement was made at the Schlafly Branch of the St. Louis Public Library, home to a parking garage in an area of St. Louis where many license tab thefts have historically been concentrated.
"Both St. Louis residents and visitors to our great city have been affected in recent years by the increasing number of license tabs stolen from parked vehicles," Chief Isom said. "It is my hope that this new program will help reduce the number of license tab thefts and ultimately lift a significant burden off the citizens in our community."
The pilot program will run in four license offices in St. Louis, making the theft-resistant tabs available to motorists who renew their registration in person at one of the following locations:
- St. Louis City Hall, 1200 Market St., Room 111
- AAA St. Louis, 3917 Lindell Blvd.
- South Kingshighway, 4628 S. Kingshighway
- Northside, 1330 Aubert Ave., Suite 102B
The pilot program will also make the new theft-resistant tabs available to Missourians who renew their registration via the Missouri Online Renewal System (MORE), those who renew by mail, or those who visit the central license office at 301 W. High St., Room 370, in Jefferson City.
In addition to reducing theft of tabs, the program will also help make license offices more efficient, as license tabs in the pilot locations will be printed on demand, ending the need for offices to keep an inventory of tabs on hand.
"Making theft-resistant tabs available at St. Louis license offices and online is just one example of how we're trying to make state government more efficient and accessible," Gov. Nixon said.
Missourians can participate in the theft-resistant tabs pilot program by visiting one of the offices listed above or by visiting www.mo.gov and clicking on the license plate tabs feature.