Oklahoma Lake Patrol won't cite boats with expired tags

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The Oklahoma Lake Patrol won't be issuing citations this holiday weekend to boat owners whose registration decals have expired. <br><br>The decals boaters were supposed to purchase

Wednesday, July 2nd 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The Oklahoma Lake Patrol won't be issuing citations this holiday weekend to boat owners whose registration decals have expired.

The decals boaters were supposed to purchase at tag agencies in June haven't been delivered to the Oklahoma Tax Commission. Since the decals aren't ready, boat owners won't get tickets, Paula Ross, information officer for the Tax Commission, said Tuesday.

``The Oklahoma Lake Patrol and Tax Commission are encouraging boaters to enjoy Oklahoma lakes,'' Ross said.

Lake patrols in surrounding states have been notified of the Oklahoma problem to ensure that out-of-state travelers won't have any problems, Ross said.

An ownership change and mechanical problems for American Decal, the Chicago company that got the bid to make the stickers, caused the delay, Ross said. Decals should be delivered to the Tax Commission in the next two weeks, she said.

``Really, at this point there's nothing the boaters and Tax Commission can do,'' Ross said. ``The main thing is to let people know to go out and enjoy their boats.''