Vehicle registration decals will soon look different in all Kentucky counties.
According to Lewis County Clerk Glenda Himes, the new registration system will require print on demand of registration papers and decals.
"Previously, when you registered a vehicle, you were given a half white and blue slip with you decal stapled to your registration. Now, however, the registration will be a full sheet of paper with the decal printed on it."
Himes said the new system will make the registration process simpler because everything will be electronically sent to Frankfort instead of having to mail in registrations.
The new system will also reduce the amount of time clerks have to spend searching for the correct decal.
"For the old system, we have boxes of registration papers and decals," Himes said. "We have to search for the correct decal for the month and year. Now, the decal will all be the same color and printed on the registration. We have to have a special type of paper, but I'm hoping it will be a lot simpler for us."
Himes said Lewis County will switch to the new system on April 28. Anyone with up-to-date registrations will not have to change their tags until the current ones expire.
Mason County Clerk Stephanie G. Schumacher said Mason County has been using the new system since April 15.
"It's easier to use," she said. "It has simplified our process. Now, we're scanning documents instead of mailing them."
According to Schumacher, the new decals are white-beige background with black lettering. The plate number of the registered vehicle is also on the decal.
Fleming County Clerk Jarrod Fritz said the new system began in Fleming County on April 7 and has been a "learning curve."
"It's easier for some things," he said. "Everything is electronically sent, so it saves money on receipts that have to be sent to Frankfort. The only thing I might see an issue with is law enforcement checking tags. They always went by the color change, so if the colors don't change next year, that might cause some confusion."
Mason County Sheriff Patrick Boggs said he does not forsee any real issues with the tag colors.
"There might be a few hiccups at first while we're getting used to it," Boggs said. "But, I don't see a lot of problems. We can run the plate number to see if tags are up to date."
In Bracken County, the new system has been in use since March 24, according to County Clerk RaeJean Poe
"We knew everyone was going to get the new system, so we told them to bring it on in," she said.
According to Poe , the new system is a much smoother process than the old system and has been welcomed in her office.
"The only other thing I would say about it is to recommend people bringing in their registration renewal notices they get in the mail," Poe said. "Those will have bar codes on them that we can scan and it will make things even easier."
The new system will be in all Kentucky counties by May 1, according to Himes.
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