Mixed opinions surrounding temp tag loan program

ST. LOUIS – Mayor Tishaura Jones is receiving backlash over her new program to provide loans to drivers with expired temp tags. Some members on the Board of Aldermen aren’t keen on the idea, among many others.

“Well, you’re taking money from people who pay taxes and giving it to people who can’t pay taxes,” Joe Vollmer said. “How are you going to implement this and who’s going to pay for the implementation of that? People who don’t want to pay something…What’s the next thing they’re going to do? I need bullets for my gun; will the city provide bullets? I don’t know where this is going.”

But other board members, such as Rasheen Aldridge, agrees with the mayor’s program.

“I think this is a good start…life is tough. Some people may say, ‘Well, if they can’t afford the car why did they go get it?’ You have to get a car to get back and forth to work on top of rent being expensive, food and groceries, if you have kids,” he said. “I think this is a great way instead of just criminalizing people. Kind of give them a second chance…it’s not that they don’t have to pay the taxes, it’s just an extension.”

The New York Times recently covered the approach the City of St. Charles is taking to combat the issue, specifically taking pictures citizens see of expired tags and sending it to the city,

Burglar used stolen credit card to have pizza delivered to home: Police

“(The program is doing) very well, we had over 4,615 sent in and they’re still trickling in… after I read the article it seems like an epidemic all across the country, people are searching for ways to solve it. I think Chief Jensen and I just got lucky with the photo thing—and its worked pretty well,” Mayor Dan Borgmeyer said.

Mayor Tishaura Jones’ Office issued the following statement regarding the program:

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.