The head of the Haines Borough’s finance committee said she won’t pursue a “lifetime” motor vehicle registration, or “Z tags,” for trailers and old autos available to municipalities since 2015.
Diana Lapham, committee chair, said she’s taking a “wait and see” approach to the law, as she believed there was consideration of repealing the program.
According to Minta Montalbo, spokesperson for the state Division of Motor Vehicles, lifetime registration has been adopted by Mat-Su Borough, Denali Borough, Fairbanks North Star Borough, and the cities of Nenana, Valdez and Yakutat. Anchorage also had adopted the program, but for trailers only, she said.
Montalbo said she wasn’t aware of efforts to repeal the law. The Haines Borough Assembly hasn’t discussed participating in the program, although at least two residents have expressed interest. Resident Lyle Huff said he notified the borough office about the program months ago. Huff said the program makes sense to people like him who own multiple trailers that are rarely used.
Resident Eddie Bryant also brought the law to the attention of the finance committee.
The program allows owners of non-commercial trailers and cars at least eight years old to pay an extra $25 and register those vehicles permanently.
Borough clerk Julie Cozzi said the matter wouldn’t show up on an agenda for assembly discussion until a resident makes an official request. “As far as I know, nobody has asked about it, and the finance committee hasn’t put forth a request yet,” Cozzi said.