LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Nevada DMV compliance officers have received 7,625 tips since launching a new public reporting website, “Registration Spotter,” just over two weeks ago to crack down on vehicles with expired registrations.
The website allows residents to report vehicles with expired or fraudulent registration, including out-of-state plates with expired registration or passed the 30-day grace period to register in Nevada. Nevada DMV compliance officers can issue citations for out-of-state vehicles with expired registrations.
Chief JD Decker of the Nevada DMV Compliance Division said officers frequently encounter vehicles with out-of-state plates.
“In areas like this where it is high density, you really don’t have to look too hard to find something that is going to stand out,” Decker told FOX5 during a ride-along.
ONLY ON FOX5: 5,000 registration violation reports, Nevada DMV responding
Nevada law requires new residents to obtain Nevada registration and a driver’s license within 30 days of moving to the state. However, compliance officers say many drivers keep out-of-state plates to avoid Nevada’s higher registration fees.
“Our resident non-resident plate problem is huge,” Decker said. “We get a lot of people that maintain an out-of-state plate because all of the surrounding states are cheaper to register their vehicles in.”
Officers look for specific indicators that out-of-state vehicles belong to Nevada residents.
“You could pick people off at schools all day long, because if your kids are in school, you live here,” Decker said. “Local residential parking stickers, that’s a tell that they live here.”
The new public reporting system has generated tips about various violations, including fake out-of-state temporary registrations. One recent tip that came with a photo showed what Decker described as “a very clearly fake Arizona temporary registration.”
Decker said the problem extends beyond Nevada, missing out on registration fees, drivers with out-of-state plates often do not carry Nevada insurance, making them a danger to others on the road.
Officers also report that violations aren’t limited to drivers who cannot afford registration fees. High-end vehicle owners often register expensive cars in states like Montana to avoid paying thousands or tens of thousands of dollars in Nevada registration fees, which are based on a vehicle’s MSRP.
Copyright 2025 KVVU. All rights reserved.
