TREASURER’S OFFICE
Adam L. Layne, Treasurer
CITY OF SAINT LOUIS | MISSOURI
“Transparency, Integrity, & Service”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 6, 2024

Contact: Theresa A. Bush, Communications Director, 314.366.3088 ph., [email protected] email.

Treasurer Adam Layne, the Office of Financial Empowerment Introduces the Title Penalty Waiver Pilot Program

December 2024 – St. Louis, MO. The City of St. Louis Treasurer’s Office of Financial Empowerment (OFE) is partnering with the Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) to launch a pilot program that addresses the financial burdens preventing compliance with vehicle registration laws. This program provides an alternative to fines for individuals with expired temporary tags due to financial hardship. Instead of imposing a penalty, participants will be given the opportunity to engage in a financial wellness course, which upon successful completion, will qualify them for a waiver of the title penalty fees. This program will begin Monday, December 9, 2024. The license office location for waivers is: 1405 PINE STREET, 2ND FLOOR, SUITE 202, ST LOUIS, MO 63103.

Participants will work with the OFE to develop financial wellness skills, fostering long-term financial health while avoiding further penalties. The OFE has release three (3) goals to attain for participants.

Goals:

  • Provide Relief for Financial Hardship: Alleviate the burden of the up to $200 title penalty fees by offering individuals an opportunity to waive the fee through participation in financial education courses.
  • Promote Financial Empowerment: Equip participants with tools and knowledge to improve their financial situation, thereby preventing future noncompliance with vehicle registration and other financial obligations.
  • Enhance Public Safety and Compliance: Encourage individuals to maintain up-to-date vehicle registration and insurance, reducing risks on the road and ensuring compliance with environmental and safety standards.

Partnership with the Department of Revenue and DMV: This pilot program will operate in partnership with a single DMV location in downtown St. Louis, MO. Individuals who qualify based on financial instability will be referred to the OFE, where they will complete a series of financial wellness courses. Upon successful completion, their title penalty fees will be waived through the Missouri DOR’s existing waiver process (Form 5105: Request for Waiver of Title Penalty).

*This program does not waive state sales and local tax, title and registration fees, or contract agent processing fees. This waiver is limited to title penalties only.

 

Treasurer Adam L. Layne was appointed in April 2021, succeeding former Treasurer Tishaura O. Jones, who became St. Louis’ first Black female mayor. Layne launched the Parking and Towing Assistance Program (PTAP), offering payment plans to residents with multiple fines. He previously served on the St. Louis Public School Board, advocating for quality education and budget transparency. Layne holds a Bachelor’s in Finance from George Washington University and a Master’s in Education from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He champions diversity, equity, and inclusion, overseeing the Office of Financial Empowerment and its College Kids Program, helping over 23,000 students save for education.

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