Late renewal reminders has some driving with expired car tabs

Late reminder notices for vehicle licensing renewal may have you driving illegally. If you have paid online, print the receipt and show it to any officer that stops you because your tabs are expired.

Washington state patrol Sergeant Darren Wright says you probably won’t be cited if you have paid. You might not even get a ticket if you are late, but no guarantee.

“We always appreciate politeness, and honesty’s the best policy. You may or may not get a citation, but it’s always best to be honest,” Wright told KIRO Radio. “It depends on how long it’s expired and why, because there are situations where you can’t renew because of outstanding parking tickets or something like that.”

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Officers have discretion and if you have unresolved moving violations, unpaid parking tickets or a long rap sheet, they may not let you off. The state Licensing Department was late sending December renewal reminders because of legal challenges to I-976, the lower car tab measure that voters passed in November.

Because of last month’s vote to lower car tabs, the state Licensing Department was ready to send December notices with the lower rates. But a court decision delayed them so they had to re-calculate and the reminders were late.

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However, that does not absolve vehicle owners of responsibility. It’s up to them to know when their tabs are expiring, reminder from the government, or not.