Crespo warns residents of vehicle registration notice suspension

STREAMWOOD, Ill. - Following the news that the Illinois secretary of state will no longer send vehicle registration reminders due to the budget impasse, state Rep. Fred Crespo, D-Hoffman Estates, is alerting drivers to an alternative that will help them avoid a lapse in registration and potential fines.

"Many families, especially those with multiple cars, rely on an annual paper notices to remind them that their vehicle registration is about to expire," Crespo said. "The governor's veto has eliminated this service suddenly, which will add to the financial burden being imposed on residents who are already overburdened by unnecessary taxes and fees."

Crespo is encouraging residents to enroll in free, paperless email reminders by visiting www.ilsos.gov/greenmail and entering the registration ID and PIN found on their current registration card. Vehicle owners who cannot locate their current card or require additional assistance with enrollment can contact the secretary of state's public inquiry division at (800) 252-8980.

"The programs and services being impacted by Gov. Bruce Rauner's government shutdown are affecting residents from all walks of life. The lack of a long-term, responsible budget that protects middle-class families is forcing women to forego breast cancer screenings, parents to quit their jobs to care for their children and college students to put their careers on hold, as the state cannot uphold its financial obligations," Crespo said. "As the chair of a bipartisan appropriations committee, I am committed to working toward a solution to our state's fiscal challenges that will not allow the governor to balance the budget on the backs of the people I represent."