Stolen Mo. registration stickers still can't be replaced free

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- A bill signed in June by Gov. Matt Blunt was supposed to eliminate the cost of replacing a stolen vehicle registration sticker.

But the measure only got rid of part of the $12 fee. Replacing a stolen sticker will still cost $3.50.

"Everyone knew our intent was to eliminate the fee," said Chuck Miller, a member of the Legislature's minority caucus staff.

But the new law only changed one existing state law, and there are two that deal with the cost of replacing a stolen sticker.

Missouri residents no longer pay an $8.50 fee to the state Department of Revenue. But another law allows licensing offices -- privately owned but operated on behalf of the state -- to charge a $3.50 transaction fee for "each motor vehicle or trailer license sold, renewed or transferred."

"The law that was passed didn't eliminate that fee," said Maura Browning, a spokeswoman for the Revenue Department.

Another law would be required to eliminate that feel. But license offices need the money to pay their employees and make a profit, Browning said.

"We can't make it not profitable for our license offices," she said. "Contrary to what is commonly believed, the vast majority of these officers are not huge moneymakers."

Miller, who works with Sen. Maida Coleman, D-St. Louis, said legislators had asked the Department of Revenue how to remove all fees.

"It's not like we did this on our own," Miller said.

Blunt's spokeswoman, Jessica Robinson, said the new law still reduces the cost of getting a replacement sticker. However, she said, Blunt would consider signing any measure designed to eliminate the other fee.

"In concept, it would be something that the governor would support," she said.

The bill Blunt signed in June expires in 2009, when the state begins issuing new, more secure license plates.

James Gorsky, of North Kansas City, was not happy with having to pay the $3.50 fee after his plates were stolen several weeks ago.

"I don't think there should be a charge," Gorsky said. "You've already paid the registration."

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Information from: The Kansas City Star, http://www.kcstar.com