ST. LOUIS — St. Louis drivers will tell you it doesn’t take long to find a car with an expired temperature tag out on the road. Some drivers purchase a vehicle but never pay the required sales taxes to obtain the proper registration and insurance. Missouri does not currently require drivers to pay the tax at the time of purchase.
Last August, the state of Missouri approved a law that allows auto dealers to collect the sales tax at the point of purchase and send that money to the state. However, officials say it could take up to two years to implement the law.
On Thursday, the St. Louis Board of Estimate and Apportionment approved a plan that will dedicate $315,479 from the city’s Department of Public Safety to a revolving loan program.
The money will be used to help low-income residents pay taxes on vehicles, tag fees and insurance premiums. The program is expected to begin accepting applications this fall.
“This is going to help those folks who face that financial barrier get into compliance and then pay back that loan,” said Conner Kerrigan, communications director for St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones.
Justine Petersen is the not-for-profit that will administer the loans.
“We will be setting up a loan fund dedicated to City of St. Louis residents that are delinquent in their registration, property taxes, or insurance,” said Sherri Flanigan-Vasquez, Justine Petersen’s chief operating officer.
City officials believe the program will make St. Louis streets safer.
“What that’s going to do is help eliminate the amount of expired temp tags that we see in the streets of St. Louis and reduce the amount of uninsured cars that we see on the streets of St. Louis,” said Kerrigan.
The program was approved for one year but can be extended by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment.
St. Louis resident Derrick Crouch sees expired temperature tags every day, including on expensive vehicles.
“It’s like, what’s the problem?” he asked.
Kerrigan said the city’s treasurer’s office, which oversees parking enforcement, has increased enforcement of expired tags.
The loan program will be available for residents who do not have an income that exceeds 80% of the area’s median income.
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