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Doh! Driving with an expired tag can end up costing you some dough

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By JESSICA BALANZA

jbalanza@tampatrib.com

Published: November 11, 2009

As soon as I wrote the words I knew what would happen.

I jinxed myself.

Two weeks ago I wrote: "The last speeding ticket I got was on my 22nd birthday. And like I said, I don't have the greatest luck."

I didn't get a speeding ticket, but the citation was birthday related. I received a ticket for having an expired tag.

It was three days after my column on speeding tickets was published.

I was driving to my brother's house when a Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office deputy pulled me over on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard at Bearss Avenue.

The officer asked me, "Ma'am, do you know why I pulled you over?"

I told her I had no idea.

When she said my tag was expired, I had one of those Homer Simpson moments - I wanted to hit my forehead and say, "Doh."

It had been 21 days since my birthday.

After the deputy left me with my $101 ticket, I started to wonder. I thought I had until the end of my birthday month to renew my tag? I had some issues renewing it this year. For one, the cost of vehicle registration increased. Mine went up $20, which caused my procrastination to kick in.

Before the price increase, I figured I would buy a two-year tag, which would delay having to pay the higher amount for two years. Unfortunately, I procrastinated on that, too.

Although it was past my birthday, when I renewed my registration I wasn't charged a late fee. At least someone cut me a break.

Send traffic and transportation info, questions or comments to Jessica Balanza at jbalanza@ tampatrib.com or call (727) 451-2342. Follow Jessica on Twitter at www.twitter.com/JessSteers Clear.

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