2 weeks Ago
A piece in the Courant this month states that changes made in the manner in which vehicles are valued/assessed have caused grand lists to drop in value. The law was passed and we have to deal with it, so if assessors must abide by this law why not also require residents to abide by some of the other laws related to taxing vehicles? In recent communications with two agencies, I have become aware that these agencies simply will not perform the tasks necessary to address the scofflaws who register their vehicles out of state in order to avert paying taxes and in-state registration fees. Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles states that owners have 90 days upon establishing residency to register their vehicles in state.
However, the DMV told me it will take no action. All they will do is ask the complainant, me, to report it to the local police, or to the other state in which the vehicles are registered. The other state, really? So, although this has been reported to the DMV, they say they will take no action.
The local assessor’s office is in the same slow travel lane. They too will take no action, only saying to me, “Our office does not coordinate with law enforcement, the DMV, or other agencies for enforcement purposes.” The transgressions have been reported to the assessor’s office, complete with photo documentation and the assessor will not coordinate with law enforcement, really? And the office of the mayor does not respond to inquiries.
So the assessor’s office will take no action and the DMV whose responsibility it is to collect registration fees, and I thought enforce the laws regarding same, will take no action, nor will they coordinate with local law enforcement? Note that Connecticut Motor Vehicle Inspectors do have arrest powers, and they do carry firearms. It is with my modest knowledge of the situation that I would suggest that rather than raising the initial valuation for vehicles up to a year old from 80% to 85%, to lessen the hit on grand lists, let us please hold these agencies accountable to enforce the appropriate laws and fine these scofflaws who register their vehicles out of state. Barry R.
Cerreto, Vernon, is a retired Police Officer Standards and Training Council certified instructor..
