15 Finds Out: Pay for the plates; still get a ticket

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) — Currently to renew your vehicle registration you can go online to the Bureau of Motor Vehicle’s website , by mail, over the phone or visit any BMV kiosk, however city officials say that time is of the essence.

Back in June, Fort Wayne native John Knepper stopped into the BMV in New Haven to renew his tags. After the $183 dollar purchase, he was given temporary paperwork to keep in his car.

“They told me this will do until you get the sticker in the mail. It will take a few weeks to get there,” said Knepper.

Weeks turned to months and on August 19, Knepper woke up with a $100 dollar citation on his car for expired plates.

“I then went downtown to point out the fact that, hey, my plates are valid here. I just haven’t got the sticker from the state of Indiana.”

Offcials told him that he was still required to have the sticker on his car, even though he already paid for it two months prior.

He asked multiple times for a hearing, to which the city denied initially but eventually granted to him.

“I go in there and I show them the email that I have from the BMV that says that the date of transaction is 6/18/24 and that my plates were valid, and the judge says it doesn’t make any difference. The sticker is not on there, you’re still guilty, and now we’re going to set you another $20 fee for fighting this in court.”

While Knepper says it’s all unfair, Fort Wayne City Clerk Lana Keesling said it’s the law.

“In the state of Indiana, there’s a state law and also city code in Fort Wayne that states that you must have a valid license plate visible on your vehicle if it expires,” said Keesling.

“For example, if it expires at the end of September the BMV actually says on their website to plan 21 days ahead to renew your plates so that you get that sticker and you can have it on your plate at the time that it expires.”

The BMV does offer registration renewal notices, click here for more information.

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