Question: Mike Hall of Bellevue says a neighbor has lived in the state for more than two years but is still driving a car with Alaska plates.

“Just the other day I saw that the tabs have been renewed for another year,” Hall tells Traffic Q&A. “He is living in this state and driving on Washington state roads without paying the state to use those roads and not being required to have an emissions check every other year just like everyone else. Is there any place I can report his violation?”

Answer: RCW 46.16.028 provides a 30-day window for Washington residents to register and license their vehicles. The penalty is a $1,122 fine.

The Washington State Patrol says tipsters can call this number to report violators: 360-449-7975. It’s a message line, so callers are asked to leave a clear message containing the vehicle license number, the state and the address where the vehicle is located.

Trooper Steve Schatzel of the Patrol’s Vancouver district, where the state puts an emphasis on catching license tab violators, said through a spokesman that he issued 660 citations last year and submitted 10 cases to prosecutors.

When Schatzel gets a tip, he sends the alleged violator “a little red postcard” explaining the rules and regulations. He reports getting a “very high compliance rate” with the postcard.

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