Department of Motor Vehicles
DENVER, Colo. -
At a Jefferson County Department of Motor Vehicles office, people are seeing red about giving up more green. "I'm pissed about it. It makes me so upset," says Lakewood resident Andrew Clyde.
So they brought in the men in blue: off-duty cops to watch over the clerks and customers should someone get overly angry about new, higher and mandatory fees.
"A gentleman indicated he was so frustrated he might have shot somebody if law enforcement were not there. But I think he was emoting," says Jefferson County Clerk Pam Anderson.
Clyde isn't quite that upset. But he's not happy. "My boat plates expired in December. Obviously, you don't take your boats out in December," he says. "It's just getting charged for it. It's crappy. It takes a lot out of our pocketbook, when we all don't need it right now."
The late fees start at $25 a month -- up to $100.
But residents started tracking them up in March when Governor Ritter signed them into law. And while some people get angry, others appear to be taking action. Just ask Henry Schroder and his neighbor.
"He said. 'The tag, Henry. The tag. The tag. I said, 'By golly, it's missing," says Schroder.
Someone stole the 90-year-old's auto renewal sticker Tuesday. A Denver DMV worker told him they're seeing a lot of that.
And she suggested he cut an X on his replacement, since you can remove them pretty easily otherwise.
Schroder understands the motivation behind the theft.
"As long you drive carefully and you don't get into an accident. Police are not going to bother you. And you are able to drive your car."
At the DMV, clerks remind residents the issue is pretty black and white.
"Most people understand this is state law. And we don't really have any flexibility on that," says Schroder.
Police are stationed at three of Jefferson County's five DMV offices. Next month, you'll see cops at Douglas County's DMV offices too.
So far, the state has collected $2.9 million in late fees since they started collecting them. It's money that will go to Colorado's roads and bridges.
So they brought in the men in blue: off-duty cops to watch over the clerks and customers should someone get overly angry about new, higher and mandatory fees.
"A gentleman indicated he was so frustrated he might have shot somebody if law enforcement were not there. But I think he was emoting," says Jefferson County Clerk Pam Anderson.
Clyde isn't quite that upset. But he's not happy. "My boat plates expired in December. Obviously, you don't take your boats out in December," he says. "It's just getting charged for it. It's crappy. It takes a lot out of our pocketbook, when we all don't need it right now."
The late fees start at $25 a month -- up to $100.
But residents started tracking them up in March when Governor Ritter signed them into law. And while some people get angry, others appear to be taking action. Just ask Henry Schroder and his neighbor.
"He said. 'The tag, Henry. The tag. The tag. I said, 'By golly, it's missing," says Schroder.
Someone stole the 90-year-old's auto renewal sticker Tuesday. A Denver DMV worker told him they're seeing a lot of that.
And she suggested he cut an X on his replacement, since you can remove them pretty easily otherwise.
Schroder understands the motivation behind the theft.
"As long you drive carefully and you don't get into an accident. Police are not going to bother you. And you are able to drive your car."
At the DMV, clerks remind residents the issue is pretty black and white.
"Most people understand this is state law. And we don't really have any flexibility on that," says Schroder.
Police are stationed at three of Jefferson County's five DMV offices. Next month, you'll see cops at Douglas County's DMV offices too.
So far, the state has collected $2.9 million in late fees since they started collecting them. It's money that will go to Colorado's roads and bridges.
