MUNSTER | Munster residents who own cars with out-of-state license plates might face a $250 fine in the new year.

Under a pending town ordinance, improperly registered vehicles would be declared a nuisance and become a local ordinance violation, Town Manager Tom DeGiulio said.

DeGiulio said the new rule does not apply to vehicles with out-of-state plates properly registered to businesses.

The Town Council approved the ordinance on first reading in early December. The policy could go into effect after a public notice and final adoption Jan. 14, he said.

"We've tried to warn people, and we've been trying to actively get people to do it," DeGiulio said. "This will give us some teeth."

The ordinance comes on the heels of residents' complaints about the number of vehicles parked in their communities displaying out-of-state plates, DeGiulio said.

"They are not paying excise vehicle taxes, and that is cheating other people," DeGiulio said.

Newly transplanted Hoosiers have 60 days to obtain state drivers' licenses and complete other car-related business, according to an Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicle spokesperson.

In Munster, those found in violation would make payments through the town's monthly Lake County court session in the clerk-treasurer's office in Town Hall, 1005 Ridge Road.

Lt. Kurt Matz said the Police Department receives a complaint call about once a month, but does not have an actual number of people who have not transferred their vehicle licensing.

"We've been responding to complaints for years, and we are now looking at being more proactive," Matz said.

Some of the possible steps would be observation and a comparison of license plate identification to Water Department records.

"A community service officer driving the streets would put a warning brochure reminding them of the state law," Matz said. "We've issued very few tickets, but we do believe it is a growing problem."