Governor Stitt Offers 1-year Extension of Cherokee Car Tag Compact, Tribe Responds

Governor Stitt (KTUL)

TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — Governor Kevin Stitt sent a letter to Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. that offered to extend the tribe’s current car tag compact service for another year.

Their current car tag compact is set to expire on August 16, 2023. Stitt’s letter offered the same terms as their current car tag compact.

“With the existing compact about to reach the end of its term, I reached out to Principal Chief Hoskin to extend the existing terms for one year to allow ample time to negotiate another long-term compact,” said Governor Stitt in a press release. “Public safety is one of my highest priorities and ensuring compact compliance so that we know who is driving on our roads is an essential piece of that. As always, my door is open, and I look forward to getting this extension in place very soon.”

Stitt sent this letter on August 4. The extension he offered includes a clause that updates the language for the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority and PlatePlay.

You can read Governor Stitt’s full letter to Chief Hoskin here and the full compact extension here.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin says amendment of the compacts is not needed.

“The Cherokee Nation has committed to working with Service Oklahoma and DPS to assist with implementation of the PlatePay system. Oklahoma’s decision to move to PlatePay didn’t involve the Cherokee Nation, but we remain open to assisting the state in accomplishing its law enforcement goals. Since the Nation has committed to working with the state on PlatePay, there is no reason to amend the compacts between the Cherokee Nation and the state of Oklahoma. These compacts have served Oklahomans well for twenty years, and thanks to the work of the legislature they will continue to serve Oklahomans well into the future,” Chief Hoskin said.