License Plate Late Fees Adding Up

Joel Kramer / CC

Without reminders from the Secretary of State’s Office, more and more Illinois vehicle owners are forgetting to renew their license plates on time, creating a mini-windfall for the state.  So far, people have paid nearly five-million-dollars this year in late fees, more than double the amount collected in the first three months of last year. The Secretary of State stopped sending out the reminders last October in order save about half-a-million-dollars in printing and postage.  Several lawmakers have suggested suspending the late fees or using the money collected so far to resume sending the reminders.