State waiver for Vehicle Registration still in effect

By Juyle Keeble at Uvalde Leader-News, October 22, 2020

Orders issued in March by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in conjunction with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles granting a temporary waiver for expired vehicle registrations are still currently in effect.

Abbott issued the order on March 16, granting a temporary extension to obtain initial or renewal of vehicle registration or titling, and renewal of a permanent disabled parking placard.

The DMV informed law enforcement agencies and county tax assessor-collectors of the temporary waiver, and as soon as new information is available it will be posted on the DMV website. Though some Uvalde Police Department officers experienced some pandemic directive-related confusion, Uvalde Police Department Chief Daniel Rodriguez says the waiver is in effect, and thusly, tickets for this infraction should not be issued.

“The governor’s order is still in effect, and we will be abiding by the order,” Rodriguez said. “Unfortunately, there have been some citations that were issued, but after speaking with municipal court, those citations will most likely be dismissed.”

Uvalde Police Department public information officer Jessica Zamora said 166 tickets for the violation had been issued to motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers sinch the governor’s March proclamation.

Alexandra Wegrzyn, deputy city attorney who handles municipal court cases, said she has been dismissing any citations issued for out of date vehicle registrations as they came up.

She stated anyone who recently received such a citation may contact the city of Uvalde municipal court for assistance at (830) 278-8357.

Rodriguez said going forward, officers should not be stopping vehicles if the only infraction is displaying an expired registration sticker.

“Since this waiver is still in effect, I have directed my patrol staff to refrain from using the expired DMV registration as probable cause to initiate a stop on a vehicle,” he said.

All officers have been notified of the common-sense directive from the chief of police.

“It doesn’t make sense to stop someone for a violation that has been waived by the governor,” Rodriguez said.

“Once the governor revokes the waiver for expired motor vehicle registrations, vehicle owners will have 60 days to ensure their vehicle is fully registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles.”

Rodriguez said though the waiver is in effect, vehicle owners can obtain and update their vehicle registration sticker at any time.

Simply have a motor vehicle inspection done, then proceed to the county courthouse to pay and receive a new registration sticker from the first-floor office of Uvalde County tax assessor-collector Rita C. Verstuyft.

Verstuyft reported in June her office was again open to walk-in customers after operating for months on an appointment only basis due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On May 18, the courthouse reopened to the public, implementing temperature checks for visitors, and Verstuyft said plexiglass shields had been installed to protect the public as well as county employees.

Office hours are 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM on Monday through Friday, and social distancing is being practiced.

Customers may also renew their registration online at www.TxDMV.gov.

See the original article: https://www.uvaldeleadernews.com/articles/state-waiver-for-vehicle-registration-still-in-effect/