Spotsylvania snags tags of delinquent county taxpayers

Dan Telvock

Nov. 7, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- If you don't pay your personal property taxes, you might lose your vehicle until the bill is paid in full.

Spotsylvania County sher-iff's deputies are taking tags off vehicles owned by residents who have not paid their personal property taxes in 12 months or longer.

Some residents called The Free Lance-Star shocked that they could lose their property, or the use of it, to the government because they are late paying the bill.

County Treasurer Larry Pritchett said the distress warrant process is nothing new. Sometimes he auctions off someone's property, such as a vehicle, because of unpaid personal property taxes, he said.

Pritchett said state law allows him to ask the Sheriff's Office to remove the tags from vehicles or confiscate personal property from people who have delinquent personal property taxes. He did not immediately know how many tags have been confiscated this year.

"The economy doesn't have anything to do with it," Pritchett said. Collecting taxes is part of his job. "When they clear the bill up, we give them the tags back."

Matt Heldreth, 32, says he is having trouble paying his mortgage after a county deputy came to his Partlow home to have him pay a $2,700 personal property tax bill. A self-employed county resident, Heldreth said this was the first time he fell behind in his tax bill, and he couldn't be without his work truck.

"I find it repulsive in a free and open society that our government can force public auctions and steal people's property like that," Heldreth said.

Heldreth paid the bill, and avoided a public auction of his vehicle or having his tags removed.

For the the past six years the county has lost about $6 million in delinquent personal property taxes, Pritchett said.

Virginia law says treasurers can turn over any unpaid taxes that are more than six months' delinquent to a collection agency, record a lien on the person's property through a circuit court judgment or have the Sheriff's Office seize personal property. After six years, the statute of limitations runs out and the county cannot collect from the taxpayer.

Before personal property can be seized, the treasurer must give the person 10 days to settle the tax debt. If the bill is not paid, the sheriff can auction the property.

Pritchett also said he asks the Department of Motor Vehicle to put a freeze on renewing tags for residents delinquent in their personal property taxes. However, that process can take up to a year because some vehicle owners pay registration for two years.

The DMV freeze is the most-popular tool treasurers use in the Fredericksburg area to collect the car tax.

King George County Treasurer Alice Moore said she has never had deputies take vehicle tags from residents who do not pay.

"I guess my most-awful thing would be DMV stops," she said. "That's when they prevent someone from renewing their tags."

Stafford County uses the DMV freeze as its chief option, said an employee in the treasurer's office.

Fredericksburg police use what is called a "boot," which prevents a person from using the vehicle by locking a wheel.

In hardship cases, Pritchett said a Spotsylvania taxpayer can call his office and ask for a payment plan on the overdue taxes.

Pritchett said he must make an effort to collect the unpaid taxes.

"If I am not doing it, then I feel like I am not doing my job," he said.

Spotsylvania County Sher-iff's Office Sgt. B.K. Jett said the process is time-consuming. He must visit the taxpayer's home while the vehicle is there. He agreed that the possibility of losing the tags gets people to pay.

"I had one that was over $50,000 that was collected about a year a half ago," he said, as he prepared to serve some of the warrants Monday.

Jett said sometimes the resident turns angry.

"I had one guy call me 'Dude,' and he said 'You're not getting my tags,'" Jett said. "I got on the radio and told dispatch to give me backup. I am going to get those tags. That's my job."

Dan Telvock: 540/374-5438

Email: dtelvock@freelancestar.com

Newstex ID: KRTB-0063-39525783