Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 1, 1994 TAG: 9406010091
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By DIANE STRUZZI STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Starting today, police officers in Roanoke, Roanoke County, Salem and Vinton may issue tickets to any motorist they stop without a valid windshield decal. In the past, an officer could issue tickets only to motorists who resided in the officer's jurisdiction.
While the agreement will not change how street patrols perform their job, it will change the penalty for the violator, said Roanoke police Chief M. David Hooper. Now, violators will be liable for a fine that ranges between $25 and $250 as well as for their unpaid personal property taxes, he said.
"People who may have ignored [the law] because they kept their vehicle in some other jurisdiction will more likely comply with their obligations," Hooper said.
Several years ago, city officials surveyed area residents, asking if the city should spend more time and effort to find residents who don't pay their taxes. About 90 percent said yes, said Michelle Bono, Roanoke public information officer. The municipal agreement is a step in that direction, she added.
The regional cooperation is the result of legislation passed by the 1993 General Assembly, which allows two or more counties, cities or towns to enter into agreements for the regional enforcement of decal ordinances.
Roanoke Valley residents must display the decals, which indicate they have paid personal property taxes on their vehicles, on their windshields,
To meet Tuesday's payment deadline, taxpayers lined the first-floor corridor of the city Municipal Building on Church Avenue until nearly 7 p.m. In all, about 2,600 residents paid up Tuesday, ranking it as one of the highest tax days in the city's recent history, according to city Treasurer Gordon Peters. The three-day weekend caused some of the backlog, he added.
Gail Pleasants figured there would be lots of people standing in line. So for two hours on Tuesday, she waited, gabbing with those around her.
"It's like a reunion down here," she said. "You see people that you haven't seen for a while."
Pleasants said she had procrastinated until the last day because she had to save the money.
"You pay a price when you wait till the last minute," she added. "But you do what you got to do. It could be worse; we could be standing outside in the heat."
by CNB