OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) – The Cherokee Nation and the State of Oklahoma tentatively agreed to amend and extend their motor vehicle tag compact following months of negotiations.
The 10-year compact agreement is tentative, requiring final approval from the Council of the Cherokee Nation and the Oklahoma Legislature’s Joint Committee on State-Tribal Relations. State and Cherokee leaders anticipate approval before the end of the year, according to officials with Gov. Kevin Stitt’s office.
The new compact respects Cherokee citizens’ rights and provides essential funds, according to Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr.
“Our goal throughout this process has been a compact that continues to benefit Cherokee Nation citizens, Oklahoman communities, and ensures our tribe continues to serve and provide for our citizens,” Hoskin said. “The new compact is a government-to-government agreement that will protect the rights of our citizens and ensure we can continue to provide essential funding for public schools, roads, and law enforcement agencies. I am grateful for the good faith negotiations from our partners in Oklahoma and the support of the Cherokee people for this fundamental exercise of our self-determination and government interests.”
Stitt said the new compact reinforces that everyone in the state contributes to Oklahoma’s road system.
“We’re all Oklahomans and we all drive on the same roads and bridges. It’s important that we’re all contributing to the things that make us a top ten state,” said Gov. Stitt. “I appreciate the cooperation of Cherokee leadership to reach an agreement, especially as it pertains to the ability to collect tolls on our turnpikes.”
The new compact agreement comes almost a year after Stitt and the Chickasaw Nation finalized new tobacco and vehicle tag and registration compacts.
The tentative Cherokee Nation and State of Oklahoma Motor Vehicle Tag Compact includes the following provisions:
- Cherokee Nation continues to operate its seven tag offices for tribal citizens to purchase Cherokee Nation tags. Cherokee Nation citizens who live outside the Cherokee Nation will have the flexibility to utilize state tag offices or Cherokee Nation tag offices, although they will be subject to payment of fees and taxes provided by the Compact.
- Cherokee Nation will share driver information for PlatePay billing and easy accessibility by law enforcement. As part of the compact agreement, the Cherokee Nation will pay a $2 million plate pay fee over a three-year period and all outstanding toll fees assessed through November 30, 2024, for Cherokee plates will be waived in exchange.
- Consistent with the previous compact, Cherokee Nation will continue to upload registration information to OLETS for public safety purposes.
- The five counties with portions outside the Cherokee Nation (Tulsa, Wagoner, Rogers, Muskogee, and Mayes counties)—commonly known as the expanded jurisdiction—will move from the previous compact model to the new at-large model. Over the next four years, all at-large vehicles tagged under the previous compact will be exempt from Oklahoma renewal requirements and can continue to register with the Cherokee Nation. Following this period, at-large Cherokee citizens in will have the option to renew at a state tag office or at a Cherokee Nation tag office.
- Additional funds Oklahoma secures from taxes and fees associated with vehicles principally garaged outside the Cherokee Nation will be expended consistent with Oklahoma law for infrastructure, education, and other public purposes. The Cherokee Nation will continue to receive a remittance from at-large tag sales and related rebates.
- The Cherokee Nation will continue to allocate funds each year from the sales of Cherokee Nation car tags for public schools, road improvements, and law enforcement, as more specifically outlined in the compact.
The new compact will go into effect on Jan. 1, if it receives final approval, and last 10 years.
