WHERE:         The Columbus Metropolitan Library, Main Branch, Second Floor
                                                  99 South Grant Ave., Columbus

                            WHO:             Governor Bob Taft
                                                                  Lt. Governor Maureen O’Connor, Director, Ohio Department of Public Safety (ODPS)
                                                  Franklin R. Caltrider, Registrar of Motor Vehicles
                                                  Volunteers who will register online
                                                  Motorists who have successfully registered through OPLATES

Governor Bob Taft; Lt. Governor Maureen O’Connor, Director, ODPS; and Franklin R. Caltrider, Registrar of Motor Vehicles will officially kick-off OPLATES.com, Ohio’s online and telephone vehicle registration system, on Tuesday, December 12.

Members of the media will see a demonstration of OPLATES.com as volunteers renew online. There will be an opportunity to speak with Ohioans who have successfully registered through OPLATES. Also, Ohio lawmakers who drafted Senate Bill 242, the E-commerce bill, will be in attendance.

During the State of the State Address in January, Governor Taft promised Ohioans OPLATES.com Would be up and running by January 2001. In June, Governor Taft signed the E-commerce bill into law.

Over 18,000 renewals have occurred through OPLATES since testing began in mid-October. Ohio motorists can renew their vehicle registration by logging onto www.OPLATES.com or by calling toll free 1-866-OPLATES.