
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 27, 1991                   TAG: 9102270421
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

POLICE CRACK DOWN ON MISSING DECALS

In a stepped-up campaign to identify people who may be delinquent in paying personal property taxes, Roanoke police have charged 172 residents in the past two months with failure to have a city motor vehicle decal.

Police Chief M. David Hooper said Tuesday that patrol officers on all regular traffic stops have been asked to pay particular attention to out-of-date or absent city decals.

"In addition, we have conducted selective enforcement, where we target a specific heavy traffic area and look for decal violations," he said. The stepped-up campaign is part of patrol duties and does not take away from officers' regular duties.

Michelle Bono, city public information officer, said police have intensified efforts to spot violators because the city has received complaints that some residents do not have decals.

All current and overdue personal property taxes must be paid before a motor vehicle owner can buy a decal. The penalty for operating a vehicle without a city decal is a fine of up to $100.

Decals for 1991 will go on sale April 15 and must be displayed by May 31.

by CNB