THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 11, 1996 TAG: 9601090065
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
LENGTH: Short : 35 lines
Sam T. Barfield, Norfolk's commissioner of revenue, has a message for residents who haven't purchased city decals for their automobiles yet:
Don't wait until the last minute.
There's still time to avoid long lines by purchasing through the mail or purchasing at the temporary satellite office in the Credit Union at the Little Creek Multi-service Center, 7665 Sewells Point Road. Hours are 10:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday until Feb. 29.
Barfield notes that sales are down this year over last year at this time, by more than 1,600 decals. As of Dec. 29, only about 49,000 decals had been sold. There are approximately 145,000 vehicles registered in Norfolk.
Barfield finds this surprising considering the push his office has made to make purchases easier, by opening the satellite office and stressing pay-by-mail.
``I guess people are holding on to their money a little longer this year,'' he said. ``However, we want to remind residents that the more they delay the greater the chances that they will encounter long lines.''
To use the satellite office, customers must not be delinquent in taxes and/or parking tickets or have a new acquisition (owned before Dec. 15, 1995) involving proration and collection of taxes. All tax payments must be made at the City Treasurer's Office in the City Hall Building, 810 Union St.
Decals must be affixed to vehicles by Feb. 15. by CNB