Mount Prospect simplifies penalties for missing vehicle stickers

Mount Prospect is getting more lenient with its vehicle sticker policy.

Now, instead of three separate, escalating late penalties for those who miss the May 1-April 30 window for purchasing the stickers, residents will incur only one late fee of 50 percent.

Prior to the change, delinquent purchasers paid a penalty of 50 percent between May 1 and June 30, 75 percent from July 1 through Aug. 31 and 100 percent after Aug. 31.

Lost revenue is estimated at $14,000, but village officials said residents often request exceptions, which requires extra staff time and attention.

The process can also be onerous to residents who have recently moved into the village. They were also subject to penalties, having to provide a dated proof of purchase or lease in order to determine whether they fell into the first, second, or third penalty phase.

The village also is abandoning the $5 fee for a transfer sticker for residents who change vehicles. In addition, it is no longer requiring the original sticker to be scraped off and turned in. Instead, residents will be able to obtain a sticker made of a Mylar material that they can transfer themselves.

Finance Director David Erb estimated lost revenue from the transfer stickers at $5,000.

The matter was originally on the consent agenda, but Trustee Colleen Saccotelli had it pulled for discussion to highlight the changes.

"I think it's a great thing that we're doing for residents," she said. "It's showing that we're customer oriented."