DUBUQUE, Iowa (KCRG) – Whether as decoration or as a keepsake, people keep their old license plates for a variety of reasons. But some just throw them away without thinking about it.
But Dubuque County Treasurer Michael Clasen warns that this could lead to further problems in the future.
“Most of the time we see it, but they just forget about it. Frankly, they sell their car on the weekend, take the plates off, put it in a drawer and just don’t turn in the plates,” he said.
Normally, surrendered license plates would be sent to prisons, where they would be disposed of and the number would be unusable for about 50 years.
But earlier this month, an investigation by our sister station WOWT revealed that a Pottawattamie County couple was threatened with a civil court judgment for failing to pay four $300 speeding tickets in New York City. Neither of them had ever been to New York.
However, the documents show that a vehicle was driving at excessive speed, although the license plate was properly handed in 12 years ago.
“They don’t care, they just want us to pay these bills, and if we pay these bills, we’re admitting that it’s still our plates, and I’m not going to do that,” said Debra Harness, one of the victims.
According to an investigation by the Iowa Department of Transportation, it is unclear whether these license plates were counterfeit or not.
But Clasen says the best way to reduce the chances of this happening is to turn the plates in directly to the local treasurer’s office. That way, it’s harder for anyone to copy or sell them.
“Whether it’s a motorcycle, a caravan, a trailer or whatever, if a vehicle has a license plate, return it to the treasurer’s office, get the credit and we can dispose of it properly,” he said.
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