Rep Encourages Drivers to Remove Registration Stickers

Last year, Pennsylvania took a revolutionary step in the arena of automobile registration and decided to get rid of registration stickers. Most states throughout the country have to renew their stickers every year as part of renewing their registration paperwork, which you are supposed to keep in the car with you at all times. The Keystone State, however, decided that, in the interest of saving money and hassle, they were going to do away with the registration stickers. Drivers must still have their cars inspected every year and produce a valid registration card when asked, but they don’t need to change the sticker on their license plate every year. It’s estimated that, by doing away with stickers and having Pennsylvanians print out their own registration at home, the state is saving $3 million a year in production and printing costs.

Pennsylvania residents no longer need registration stickers, and a state rep is encouraging drivers to peel the old ones off to avoid trouble with out-of-state police.

There’s no requirement in Pennsylvania for drivers to peel any outdated registration stickers from their license plates, but Rep. Mike Tobash of the 125th District got on Facebook recently to encourage drivers to do so anyway. “Pennsylvania drivers are encouraged to remove expired registration stickers from their license plates as out-of-state police officers have pulled over drivers with outdated stickers,” he wrote.

Basically, out-of-state police officers haven’t all gotten the memo that Pennsylvania vehicles no longer need registration stickers. So they are driving down the road and see a car with an outdated 2016 sticker on the license plate, so they pull the driver over. A Pennsylvania driver can still prove via valid registration card that they are up to date on their requirements, but it’s a hassle that most drivers would probably rather just avoid. That’s the reason why Tobash is advocating that drivers get scrape-y and remove the stickers.

“Pennsylvania State Police encourage residents who are pulled over to politely explain the change to the officer and show him or her registration paperwork, which should be in vehicles at all times,” Tobash advised.