Enforcement-Expired Vehicle Registrations and Temporary License Plates

Enforcement-Expired Vehicle Registrations and Temporary License Plates

Published on July 03, 2024

Vehicle Owners Encouraged to Register Vehicles or Renew Registrations Now to Avoid Being Pulled Over and Cited

Denver - Wednesday, July 3, 2024 - For a one-month period beginning on July 15, 2024, the Denver Police Department will conduct targeted enforcement of expired vehicle registration and expired temporary license plate violations.

DPD consistently hears complaints from residents about these violations, and this enforcement period is responsive to those community concerns. DPD encourages vehicle owners to obtain permanent license plates or renew their vehicle registration as required by law, and so they can avoid the possibility of a $95 fine from a Denver Municipal Code citation on top of registration/renewal costs.

Denver residents can find information about registering or renewing the registration for their vehicle, branch and kiosk locations, online services and more on the Denver Motor Vehicle website: https://www.denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Motor-Vehicle. According to Denver Motor Vehicle, registration of newly purchased or acquired vehicles must be done in-person at DMV offices, and registration renewals must be done online or at a kiosk. Vehicle owners are reminded that while vehicle registrations have a 30-day grace period after expiration, temporary license plates do not have a grace period after expiration.

To allow for enforcement of expired vehicle registrations and expired temporary license plates during this one-month period, the Denver Police Department is temporarily, and partially, suspending its policy regarding low-level traffic stops.

That policy, adopted in May of 2024:

• Emphasizes officers focus their time and efforts on addressing serious, crash-causing violations
  For example, speeding, reckless/careless driving, disobedience to traffic signals, etc.

• Limits officers from conducting traffic stops for lower-level traffic offenses that do not pose a risk to public safety
  For example, equipment violations (inoperable headlight/taillight, cracked windshield that doesn't block driver's view), expired vehicle registration, expired temporary license plate, etc.
  Exception: Officers may conduct traffic stops for low-level offenses if officers have reason to believe the driver and/or vehicle are involved in a serious crime, such as auto theft, robbery or burglary, hit-and-run crash, drug crimes, violent crime, etc.

NOTE: The ability to temporarily suspend the policy in this manner was built into the policy and is not a reversal or change in policy.

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