I stopped payment on my license tab renewal. According to media reports based on interviews with DOL that is not a good idea. DOL claims they will submit all returned checks to a collections agency.

Does anyone have advice from a legal standpoint? Could we return the tabs and say we changed our mind, don't want to get tabs now and won't drive the car until January with new tabs. It seems like it should be legal to change your mind after sending in renewal form but before the new tabs were recieved in the mail and before the check is cashed.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Apparently there are many of us in this situation. It would be good if there is a legal way out, news would get out on what to do, so we could all be helped.

-- (s4helgeson@hotmail.com), November 11, 1999

Answers

If you haven't received your tabs then you may have some legal standing.

Once you have gotten the tabs your screwed. You paid, they sent. Just write off the tabs on your 1040 next year.

BTW, did you vote no on 695?

Ed - tabs due on April 1st. their the ones who will get fooled next year.

-- Ed (ed_bridges@yahoo.com), November 11, 1999.

I am not a lawyer, but common sense says that when you signed that check and mailed/handed to the DOL, you effectively "signed" a contract. You pay State. State gives you little stickers.

Stop payment on that check was the worst thing you could have done....You're probably already in collections!

Your only way out is to physically walk into a DOL with certified funds to "re-buy" your tabs.

As an aside: State Police are on the lookout for Tab-Cheaters!

Only way out of $33 tabs is to park on PRIVATE property....If you are on the street, your first ticket will be $71....Next is about twice that, and so on.

-- Jim DeFord (jimdeford@home.com), November 11, 1999.

I'm going to "ditto" the other posts. You and any other person who stops pay on your check for tabs are doing a very foolish thing. Here is the impact:

1. Stop pay fee from your bank 2. Bad mark on your credit rating for having been turned over to a collection agency 3. If you have tabs in your posession and put them on your car, you are committing fraud! The fines for this are MUCH steeper than just driving with expired tabs. 4. There is probably a notation on your record at DOL requiring certified check or money order for payment of all future renewals.

LISTEN UP PEOPLE! If your tabs are due before year end, you have four options and four options only.

1. Pay the full renewal price 2. Buy a series of "day passes" for $18(?) each, good for three days. 3. Drive your car only on private property or leave it parked until Jan 3rd. 4.Sell your car, take the cash and use public transportation until January. You're paying for it, you might as well use it!

-- just a guy (torijosh@yahoo.com), November 12, 1999.