Copyright © 2000 NLThomas
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TAHLEQUAH, OK - Enrolled members of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma (CNO) will have to wait a few more months to get tribal car tags. The Cherokee Nation currently does not issue tags, but is presently working with the State of Oklahoma towards an agreement that would allow CNO tribal members, who live anywhere in the 14 county jurisdictional area in northeastern Oklahoma, to purchase a tag for their vehicle.

On August 9, 2000 Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma representatives will meet with other tribal leaders to discuss the CNO's proposed compact with the state. The Cherokee Nation, along with other tribes in eastern Oklahoma, are exploring the possibility of a multi-tribal compact.

In the next few weeks, state officials will meet with CNO leaders in an attempt to work out a compact agreement. The reason the Cherokee Nation has decided to explore a compact with the state is to assure its tribal members, that acquire a CNO tribal tag, will be honored in states outside of Oklahoma.

Law enforcement agencies in some other states have failed or refused to recognize tribal tags because they are not included in the National Motor Vehicle Licensing Database. The NMVLD is the database used by most state law enforcement agencies to determine the validity of motor vehicle tags.

The CNO, with its tens of thousands of members who own vehicles and live in the 14 county jurisdictional area, does not want to impact the state tag revenues that are earmarked for local schools by issuing its own tags. To that end, the Cherokee Nation's proposed car tag plan would ensure that local school districts within the 14 county area would receive as much or more money from motor vehicle tag sales than they do under the current state plan.