I-Team: Cars Registered Out Of State Costing Towns

WESTBOROUGH (CBS) - The law is pretty simply in Massachusetts when it comes to registering a car.

If a vehicle is in the state for 30 days of out of a year, then it needs to be registered, insured, and inspected here.

Several viewers reached out to the I-Team, asking why so many cars in their neighborhood have out-of-state plates.

Cities and towns could be losing millions of dollars a year in excise tax because these car owners are skirting the state's law.

Registrar of Motor Vehicles Rachel Kaprelian told us, "Everybody should be following the same rules."

WESTBOROUGH EXAMPLE

New Jersey, New Hampshire, and South Carolina were among the license plates the Iteam found at the Flanders Hill Apartment Complex in Westborough.

After receiving a tip from a viewer, the I-Team monitored these cars, and a couple dozen more, to see if they stayed in that parking lot for more than 30 days.

Peter Stilla had parked his car at the Westborough complex for more than a month and it still had North Carolina plates on it.

"I guess that most people don't know that it's a 30-day sort of thing," he said.

Responding to another tip, the I-Team found a similar situation in several Brighton neighborhoods.

NO EXCISE TAX

All of these cars with out-of-state plates don't pay excise tax which is a huge hit for cities and towns across the state.

Westborough Town Manager Jim Malloy said that money is very tight for his town these days.

He further explained that he has seen collections for the excise tax shrink in recent years.

Less revenue means services residents depend upon can get cut.

Malloy said excise town revenue could be used to pave a street, fill a pot hole, put in a sidewalk, or pay for recreation programs.

INSURANCE ISSUE

Having cars registered out-of-state isn't just a revenue issue, however.

It can also create a public safety issue.

State law requires car owners to insure their cars here in Massachusetts according to Kaprelian.

Not all states do and that can make bad situation worse if there is an accident involving an uninsured vehicle.

Malloy questions if enough is being done to crackdown on these scofflaws.

"The penalties aren't really as stiff as they could otherwise be, that might discourage people from doing that," he said.

Under current law, local police have to cite a driver, and then turn that information over to the Registry for a hearing.

It's a system some drivers find easy to beat.

Malloy said he would like to see some stronger enforcement action.

COLLEGE EXEMPTION

There is an exemption for college students, but they are required to fill out some paperwork with the local police department.

The Registry would like your help if you suspect a car is illegally registered.

You can call "1-800-I Pay Tax".