By Roger McKinney

rmckinney@joplinglobe.com

COLUMBUS, Kan. — Cherokee County Sheriff David Groves said he is cracking down on county residents who have illegally registered their vehicles in other states.

Groves said he prefers residents to comply voluntarily, but if not, his deputies will issue citations.

“I think it’s definitely a problem,” Groves said. “It’s easy for people to go to another state to register their cars and trucks.”

He said the problem is primarily in the southern part of the county, near the Oklahoma and Missouri borders, especially around Baxter Springs and Galena.

“It’s essentially illegal registration,” Groves said. “The problem, aside from them just choosing to break the law, is the money from those registrations goes toward cities and school districts, and a lot of other government functions.”

Groves said residents sometime get a post-office box in Oklahoma, or register their vehicles at the address of a cabin on the lake, or a friend’s or family member’s address in Oklahoma.

The cost to register a car in Oklahoma is much less than it would be in Kansas or Missouri.

Adding to the cost in Kansas and Missouri are personal property taxes. Paula Ross, spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Tax Commission, said there is no property tax on vehicles in her state.

Using a 2008 Toyota Corolla as an example, the cost to register the car in Oklahoma is $91.

In Kansas, the cost to register the car is $39, but property taxes add $207.55, for a total of $246.55.

In Missouri, a one-year registration is $21.25. There also is a $3.35 fee. An inspection can add up to $12.50 to the price. The property tax on the car, if it’s in Joplin, in Jasper County and in the Joplin School District, is $175.99. The Missouri total is $213.09.

Ted Farnen, spokesman for the Missouri Department of Revenue, said a new license plate could add $2.78 to the total.

Cherokee County Treasurer Juanita Hodgson said she has already seen some results of the increased enforcement effort.