Regplate Security Measures Implemented

Greene County drivers are on the receiving end of a new program to decrease the theft of license plate tabs.

Since Nov. 1, license offices have dispensed new tabs that include the license plate number and year the license must be renewed.

Revenue Department Director Alana Barragan-Scott held a news conference Tuesday at the license office on Glenstone Avenue to announce the changes.

She said license tab fraud usually occurs by stealing, copying or sharing a tag. Because a tab is specific to a license plate, neither of those measures would work.

The license office prints each tab as needed.

“Enhanced tabs are a smart response to a common problem,” Barragan-Scott said.

The new program costs $130,000 annually for the changes in St. Louis, Kansas City, Jefferson City and Greene County license offices. It also applies to license plates renewed by mail or online at plates.mo.gov.

Greene County license offices are at Park Central Square, on Glenstone Avenue, Fremont Avenue and in Republic. The department said it had issued 5,700 new tabs as of Friday.