The DeKalb County Clerk’s Office will soon be implementing ‘Print-on-Demand’ registration decals. A new service which will print a customized decal displaying a vehicle’s license plate number.
The technology, already being used in 86 other counties, removes the need for standard pre-printed decals with randomized numbers. Instead, residents will be issued a sticker showing their license plate number. Registration cards will also look different. Rather than the usual 8-1/2-by-11 inch sheet of paper, residents will receive a smaller document, about the size of an envelope, printed by the machines. The decals are directly printed onto the cards. Having the registrant’s plate number on the decal will help prevent and stop the theft of renewal decals.
The county commission last week approved a line item budget transfer to start up the service. County Clerk James L. (Jimmy) Poss, who made the request, said that while he already has the money in his budget, he would need to move funds from one category to another within the budget to account for the expenditure.
“Based on registration and renewal statistics provided from the Tennessee Department of Revenue Vehicles Services, DeKalb County will receive $1,500 from the state which will assist with the start up costs of acquiring the equipment needed for the service,” said Poss.
“Our equipment provider, Business Information System” or “BIS” has provided a quote of $1,640 to implement the “Print on Demand” program, after reimbursement. Four new printers are to be installed at the County Clerk’s office as part of the system. As an addendum to the contract, an annual $800 expense will be required to cover any maintenance or replacement of any of the four printers for up to five years.
“Print on Demand” is expected to help the office save money by no longer having to issue the standard registrations. And the state is furnishing the new specialized paper and assisting in the expense of the printers. ” This will combine vehicle registrations and tag decals into a single document. We will no longer staple the decal sticker to paperwork. This process eliminates the need for controlled stock decals, since license plate numbers are printed on the decal. Our Office should see increased efficiency by eliminating the log of decal numbers. The Department of Revenue will supply the plain thermal form stock paper,” said Poss.
The new system may also cut down on decal thefts, assist law enforcement, and help the clerk’s office turn away non-residents who attempt to register their vehicles in the county. “The printing of the registrant’s plate number on the decal is an added security feature and will curb theft of decals. For someone who wants to steal your decal all they would have to do is peel yours off and put it on their plate. With “Print on Demand” if they try to take them it won’t work because the decal number has to match the license plate number. This system works a lot better for us, because we won’t have to worry about keeping up with all the decal numbers. Their decal will be tied to their plate,” Poss said.
“Print on Demand” began in December 2013 and is expected be in operation statewide by the end of 2015.
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