April 07--Illinois drivers once again will be getting notification that their vehicles are due for emission testing -- but drivers will continue to have to get their license plates renewed without a reminder from the state.
The reminders on emission testing and license renewal had been suspended in December to save money amid the state budget stalemate. Typically, if a vehicle hasn't passed an emission test, the owner is unable to complete the license plate renewal process -- which can lead to penalties and fines.
The reminders are clearly needed. Since the mailers ceased, the amount collected by the state in fines for late registration has more than doubled.
Between January and March 2015, 111,200 late registration citations were levied for a total of $2.2 million in fines. For the same time period this year, there were 247,913 citations for a total of $5 million in fines.
Secretary of State Jesse White's office had been allowing drivers to renew plates without emission testing. Now that the testing notices will be going out again, the grace period will end June 1. White's spokesman, David Druker, said that gives the public a couple of months to adjust to getting the reminders again.
The state's emission testing contractor agreed to print and send the notices to drivers at no extra cost to the state, according to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
But Druker said the state remains unable to mail out reminders for drivers to update their vehicle registration. Drivers can sign up to receive registration reminders by email.
"We have to be very conservative to keep the (postage) account running," Druker said. "It's a tough choice. We're very sorry for anyone who had to pay the late fee or got tickets, but look at the choice we had to make without a budget."
cbott@tribpub.com
