Nevada Highway Patrol to crack down on vehicles registered in other states

Beginning in April the Nevada Highway Patrol will step up enforcement and crack down on residents who register their vehicles in other states.
“It’s important that all people register their vehicles in the state they are residing in,” Department of Public Safety Director Chris Perry said in a news release. “The reality is, in the State of Nevada, the bulk of vehicle registration dollars go to the county and school district in which that motorist lives.  Additional resources are needed by the county and appropriate school district as individuals and their families move into the state. Increasing our enforcement efforts will assist with collecting the funds for current and new residents and their children’s schools.”
NHP patrol officers routinely identify drivers who commit moving, non-moving and mechanical violations. License plates from out-of-state will be reviewed at with the same scrutiny as traffic violations in the new campaign, Perry said.

Residents new to Nevada are required by law to obtain a Nevada driver license and vehicle registration within 30 days. Failing to register a vehicle in time is initially a misdemeanor offense and a $1,000 fine. According to Nevada law, you’re a resident if you live in Nevada and are gainfully employed. You have 30 days to register your vehicle.
“It can cost you money if you’re caught breaking the law,” said Department of Motor Vehicles Director Bruce Breslow. “But there’s no fine with complying with the law. A word to the wise might be ‘comply before you get caught.’”
Just $33 goes to the State Highway Fund, Breslow added. “The rest of the registration money is simply collected by the DMV and then distributed to the proper county and school district.”
Nearby states can have radically different fees and tax structures than Nevada’s. For example, it costs about $383 to register a 2013 vehicle in Washoe County with a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of $25,000. Of that, $350 is Governmental Services Tax. In Oregon where the border is only about 200 miles from Reno, that same vehicle would cost $195 for a four-year registration. The problem is the vehicle isn't being driven in Oregon.
“The loss in revenue to counties and school districts as a result of people skirting the law is significant,” Department of Transportation Director Susan Martinovich said, “but there’s also a loss to the State Highway Fund. Those dollars that are lost could go toward building and maintaining roads those motorists are driving on as well as putting people to work.”