Oklahomans show support for tag price reduction

Tuesday, January 4th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Most of the support for a general reduction in Oklahoma vehicle tag prices comes from the Tulsa and Oklahoma City metropolitan areas, while people living in more rural areas appear to be divided over such a proposal. A new Oklahoma Poll shows that 54 percent of Tulsa-area residents favor the idea. That compared with 50 percent in Oklahoma City and 44 percent in rural areas. Statewide, 48 percent of respondents favor a general reduction in tag prices, while 41 percent oppose the idea, according to the poll taken in December.

The Tulsa World-sponsored poll of 750 people statewide was taken by Tulsa Surveys. The results of the poll, which has a margin of error of 3.5 percent, can be generalized to the entire state population. According to the Oklahoma Tax Commission, the state brought in $305.3 million in 1999 from the registration of farm, commercial and regular vehicles. The commercial and farm truck registrations represent more than 14 percent of the total registrations.

Poll consultant Al Soltow, director of research at the University of Tulsa, noted that 55 percent of Oklahomans participating in the survey opposed the elimination of special rates for farm and commercial vehicles. Six of every 10 people surveyed in rural areas opposed the suggestion. It was favored statewide by 36 percent, with the largest support coming from the Tulsa and Oklahoma City metropolitan areas. Eighty-six percent of those polled said they favored new restrictions to ensure that vehicles with farm and commercial tags are used for their designated purposes. Even in the rural areas of the state, 83 percent supported restrictions.