By William C. Singleton III
Journal contributor
Beginning Nov. 3, Hoover and other Jefferson County residents will be able to apply for new car tags and other vehicle licenses at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.
Hoover Mayor Gary Ivey and Jefferson County Commissioner Jimmie Stephens announced at a recent City Council meeting the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium will operate as a full-service satellite courthouse. That means county residents will be able to apply for new car tags, motorcycle licenses, boating licenses and vehicle tags.
The city currently operates an office at the Met which handles only vehicle tag renewals. The service is currently only available to Hoover residents. City officials opened that office in August, although they said their plans were to open a full-service satellite office when they found a permanent location.
Stephens said the county is in a much better financial position to move forward with the satellite office, which will relieve the burden on other satellite courthouses inundated with residents seeking to renew or purchase new tags. Currently, the county services vehicle registration matters from its courthouses in Birmingham and Bessemer and a satellite office in Center Point.
Ivey said Hoover is looking for a bigger location to accommodate more services. Residents won’t be able to obtain driver’s license photos at the Hoover Met, but a new location could be outfitted with additional cameras, Stephens said.
Vestavia Hills and Hoover are the only two Jefferson County cities offering car tag renewal services. A bill passed in the State Legislature earlier this year gave Jefferson County municipalities the opportunity to establish car tag renewal services.
Other cities are contemplating offering similar services for their residents. ϖ
