Pro Tem's temporary license plate legislation passes Senate
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - Legislation the would create a new system for temporary license plates passed the Senate on Tuesday.
Senate Bill 2035 would develop a system for temporary license plates on vehicles sold in state, adding rules so no one will have to drive without a license plate after buying a car.
This comes after a life-threatening car accident involving Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat's son.
On Friday, January 5, Canadian County Deputy Jose Mendoza spotted a black Dodge Charger, driven by 16-year-old Mason Treat, on I-40 without a license plate and performed a traffic stop. Shortly after, a pickup truck traveling approximately 70 mph crashed into both of them.
The charger was purchased by his parents from a private seller. In Oklahoma, state law allows 60 days for private sale vehicle purchases to register and tag their new vehicle. That law actually changed a few years ago, but some law enforcement officers still aren’t aware because the rules are different for dealership sales.
“It should have been a simple conversation,” said Mason’s mom, Maressa Treat. “He should have made it to basketball.”
Dep. Mendoza was going to let Mason Treat go before the crash. Instead, both were severely injured after a drowsy driver crashed into the side of the charger.
Mason spent twenty days in the hospital, including five days in the ICU at OU Health and some time at Bethany Children’s Center for rehabilitation.
On Tuesday, SB 2035 passed the Senate Floor unanimously after previously being passed by the Aeronautics and Transportation Committee.
“As parents, it was our worst nightmare to receive a call from the Highway Patrol saying our son, Mason, was in a life-threatening accident,” Pro Tem Treat said. “My family has been forever changed by something that was completely avoidable. Thankfully, both Mason and the sheriff’s deputy involved in the accident are recovering and no one lost their lives. But the end result could have been drastically different. I cannot adequately explain the emotions that my wife Maressa and I experienced on January 5 when this happened. Changing this law will save lives and once this becomes law, no one will have to drive without a car tag again. It will provide clarity to law enforcement and give drivers peace of mind after purchasing a vehicle.
“I am grateful to my Senate counterparts who voted in favor of this meaningful legislation. I also appreciate my House counterparts, including Senate Bill 2035’s coauthor Rep. Kyle Hilbert, and Speaker Charles McCall, who has committed to seeing this legislation through on the House side.”
Provisions for SB 2035 include:
- Provide a method for dealers to electronically enter required purchaser information for each vehicle purchase and submit information to Service Oklahoma every 24 hours.
- Dealers and sellers must also complete the pre-registration of the vehicle by submitting documentation to Service Oklahoma or a licensed operator identifying the vehicle within two-days of the purchase.
- Individuals purchasing a motor vehicle in a private sale can also print a temporary tag to place on their vehicle after proper documentation is submitted to Service Oklahoma in the instance of the seller keeping a custom tag.
- Tribal tags will not be impacted by the law change.