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Letter to the editor

Young woman goes to boot camp, pays a price back home

A name transfer on a car costs an unnecessary $100.

By NICOLE BARDO-COLON
Published June 10, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - She joined the military to serve her country, and now she's home from basic training and her mother said she is being penalized.

Patty Catlin wanted to transfer the car her daughter Valerie Chandler bought with her own money at age 16, into her daughter's name. Chandler, who is now 19, joined the Army in January and returned home recently for a few weeks before she reports to her post at Fort Campbell in Kentucky.

Catlin said she called ahead to ask for the cost of the transfer and was told $68. But when they arrived at the tag agency, they were asked to pay an additional $100, which is normally required for a new registration.

There are several exemptions, including one for immediate family members living in the same house, but Chandler's military status made the clerks question the exemption.

"This is a kid that's done everything right, " Catlin said. "She's out there serving her country. This is a terrible thing to do to a kid."

When Chandler bought the 2000 Toyota Corolla, she was too young to have it registered in her name, so the vehicle was registered in her father's name.

Catlin said that because her daughter has never lived anywhere else and has not even gone to her station yet, her permanent address is the same.

"I'm in agreement that this should have been handled differently, " said Tilli Blocker, deputy tax collector for licensing and services.

She said the exemptions are specific and because Chandler did not qualify under military exemptions, her staff might have gotten confused.

"If there is a crossover it can be very confusing, " Blocker said. "They were doing accordingly by the book."

Blocker said this is an issue she plans to bring before the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles because there could be confusion again in the future.

"I want my folks to have a clear picture of what they should do, " she said.

In the meantime, Sam McClelland, deputy tax collector for communications, said they prepared and submitted an application for a refund for Chandler and are expediting the process.

"A lot of us are veterans working and we are very understanding and sympathetic of these problems, " McClelland said.

He said Chandler qualified for the exemption under a transfer of ownership with an immediate family member living in the same house.

"It's clear that this is her residence, " McClelland said. "Joining the military does not constitute abandonment of her permanent residence and home of record."

He said the tag agency staff might have become confused by the military exemptions because she is in the military, but that is why they are petitioning the state to examine "these regulations and recommend legislative action."

McClelland said it concerned him that Chandler's circumstances were not covered under the different military exemptions.

"We are very appreciative this happened, " he said. "It helped us to find a loophole that we should sew up."

[Last modified June 9, 2007, 20:37:05]