Walsh Backing Effort to Preserve Vehicle Registration Reminders

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – To help save taxpayer dollars and ensure residents continue receiving vehicle registration reminders in the mail, state Rep. Larry Walsh, Jr., D-Elwood, is sponsoring a proposal by Secretary of State Jesse White to offset the cost of registration reminders by selling advertisement space.

“I understand how important vehicle registration reminders are to many drivers who rely on them to know when to renew their registration and avoid costly penalties,” Walsh said. “This legislation will help save taxpayer dollars and ensure these valuable reminders continue being mailed.”

Walsh is sponsoring House Bill 394, which would allow the Secretary of State’s office to offset the cost of vehicle registration reminders by including small advertisements on the letters. According to the Secretary, the reminder mailings cost taxpayers approximately $450,000 a month in postage. Walsh’s bill will give the Secretary of State financial flexibility during the ongoing budget crisis to ensure these reminders continue being mailed out.

In October 2015, vehicle registration reminders were discontinued due to the budget crisis. Mail reminders were reinstated August 2016 after the passage of a stopgap budget. Walsh also supported a new law last year waving late fees for drivers who didn’t receive a registration reminder in the mail and failed to renew their registration.

Walsh is also encouraging drivers to sign up for email vehicle registration reminders at www.cyberdriveillinois.com.

“I believe it’s important to give drivers options and my bill gives the Secretary of State’s office the ability to preserve registration reminders,” Walsh said. “I also encourage residents to sign up for email registration reminders through the Secretary of State’s website.”