City employs new system to catch tax delinquents

Date: 6/26/2012

June 25, 2012

By G. Michael Dobbs

news@thereminder.com

SPRINGFIELD — After a two-year legislative effort led locally by City Councilor Timothy Rooke and in Boston by State Rep. Sean Curran, Springfield will have the means to identify and pursue drivers who have not paid their excise taxes.

The result of the first year of implementation could be as high as $3.5 million in new revenue to the city, Rooke explained to Reminder Publications. He estimated the amount owed to the city in excise tax as high as $7 million.

Collector Stephen J. Lonergan stated in a press release last week that as of July 9 the license recognition system would be used. A camera photographs a license plate and accompanying computer software determines if there are outstanding excise taxes or parking tickets associated with that vehicle.

Working with the Springfield Parking Authority (SPA), the car may then be booted, towed or impounded until the taxes or fees are paid. Lonergan estimated there is $5.7 million in outstanding parking tickets.

Rooke said the amount that would be collected would diminish after the first year, as drivers should be more aware of what can happen to their cars if they don't pay the tax or tickets.

He added that although the Registry of Motor Vehicles will prevent a license or registration from being renewed if there are unpaid parking tickets, unpaid excise taxes are not part of its system.

Some of the unpaid excise taxes got back 15 to 20 years, Rooke said.

Rooke explained he first learned about the license recognition program from John O'Brien of Rock102. He then sought the passage of a Home Rule Petition. He said Mayor Domenic Sarno supported the legislation.

What kept the legislation from being passed sooner, Rooke added, was the lack of a legislative advocate in the House, a role Curran took on.

What does concern Rooke is there is only one such unit at this time. He said the SPA would probably concentrate on the downtown, but additional units could be used in the neighborhoods of the city. Each unit costs $20,000.