Pro Tem Treat Comments on Passage of Car Tag Legislation

Senate Bill 2035 comes after Treat son’s life-threatening accident that was avoidable

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, today saw his main priority of the 2024 Legislative Session pass unanimously off the Senate floor.

Senate Bill 2035 creates a new system for temporary license plates on vehicles sold in the state. Rules will be implemented so no one will have to drive without a license plate after purchasing a car.

This change became Pro Tem Treat’s top priority after his 16-year-old son, Mason, was involved in a near-deadly accident on I-40. While his car was legally owned and he had all the proper documentation, he didn’t have a tag on his car due to current law.

Mason was pulled over and while a sheriff’s deputy was reviewing proper documentation, a driver veered off the road, slamming into the back of him.

“As parents, it was our worst nightmare to receive a call from the Highway Patrol saying our son, Mason, was in a life-threatening accident,” Pro Tem Treat said. “My family has been forever changed by something that was completely avoidable. Thankfully, both Mason and the sheriff’s deputy involved in the accident are recovering and no one lost their lives. But the end result could have been drastically different. I cannot adequately explain the emotions that my wife Maressa and I experienced on January 5 when this happened. Changing this law will save lives and once this becomes law, no one will have to drive without a car tag again. It will provide clarity to law enforcement and give drivers peace of mind after purchasing a vehicle.

“I am grateful to my Senate counterparts who voted in favor of this meaningful legislation. I also appreciate my House counterparts, including Senate Bill 2035’s coauthor Rep. Kyle Hilbert, and Speaker Charles McCall, who has committed to seeing this legislation through on the House side.”

Pro Tem Treat’s son Mason spent 20 days in the hospital recovering from his injuries. He continues his recovery at home and in various physical therapy sessions.  

Click here to watch Pro Tem Treat’s floor debate on Senate Bill 2035.

Provisions of Senate Bill 2035

• Provide a method for dealers to electronically enter required purchaser information for each vehicle purchase and submit information to Service Oklahoma every 24 hours.

• Dealers and sellers must also complete the pre-registration of the vehicle by submitting documentation to Service Oklahoma or a licensed operator identifying the vehicle within two-days of the purchase.

• Individuals purchasing a motor vehicle in a private sell can also print a temporary tag to place on their vehicle after proper documentation is submitted to Service Oklahoma in the instance of the seller keeping a custom tag.

• Tribal tags will not be impacted by the law change.   

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