Published: June 27, 2009 07:14 pm      

Time to pay up

If you’re new to W.Va., better register your vehicle

It’s an ongoing problem, but officials in Mineral County are seeing increased compliance by newcomers to West Virginia who are registering their motor vehicles with the state, instead of continuing to maintain licensure through the state of their former residence.

Why do new residents hesitate to register their vehicles? It’s because West Virginia, unlike Maryland, has a personal property on trucks, automobiles and other items. The thinking must be, “If I’m not registered, I don’t have to pay.”

In recent years, Mineral County has placed an increased emphasis on getting new residents to register their motor vehicles in West Virginia, and it’s paying off. People are coming on board.

Officers keep an eye out for scofflaws, and civilians can report suspicious vehicles to the county. Their thinking must be, “If I’m going to have to pay this tax, so should that other fellow.”

Mineral County’s compliance officer will get some help from Paul Karalewitz, a law enforcement veteran who will serve as school resources officer at Keyser, a position formerly held by new Sheriff Craig Fraley. When school isn’t in session, Kralewitz will assist with registration compliance as well as acting as court bailiff and transporting prisoners for the sheriff’s office.

We hear the discussions about how people are moving from Maryland to West Virginia to escape Maryland’s high taxes, but that subject can be debated another time.

The bottom line is this: Whatever state you live in, you need to pay the taxes it assesses. It’s the right thing to do, the state needs the revenue so it can provide the services you demand, it’s the law, and the penalties for failing to do so can be severe.