Lawton, OK – After months of negotiations, leaders of the Cherokee Nation and Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt have reached a landmark agreement regarding the tribe’s motor vehicle tags. The new compact, which is expected to take effect on January 1, 2024, will allow the Cherokee Nation to continue issuing license plates to its citizens living across Oklahoma for the next decade.
The compact, which still requires approval from both the Cherokee Nation Council and the Oklahoma Legislature’s Joint Committee on State-Tribal Relations, is expected to be finalized by the end of the year. Once approved, it will formalize a government-to-government agreement that enables the Cherokee Nation to operate its own vehicle registration system, a right that has been a point of contention in recent years.
In a statement, Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. expressed gratitude for the progress made in the negotiations. “This new compact is a vital exercise of our sovereignty and self-determination,” Hoskin said. “It ensures we can continue to provide essential funding for public services, including schools, roads, and law enforcement, while protecting the rights of our citizens.”
The compact comes after tensions between the Cherokee Nation and Governor Stitt’s administration over vehicle tags. Stitt had previously criticized the current system, arguing that it was unfair and that tribes should share revenue from tag sales with the state. The issue became more urgent last year when the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority reported that it was unable to collect nearly $5 million in toll fees because it lacked the necessary vehicle registration information from drivers with tribal plates.
In a statement following the agreement, Governor Stitt acknowledged the cooperation of Cherokee leadership. “We’re all Oklahomans, and we all drive on the same roads and bridges,” Stitt said. “It’s important that we all contribute to the things that make us a Top 10 state. I appreciate the Cherokee Nation’s willingness to reach an agreement that ensures tolls can be collected on turnpikes.”
As part of the compact, the Cherokee Nation has agreed to share driver information with law enforcement agencies and the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, which will allow the state to utilize its cashless tolling system for vehicles registered with tribal tags. In return, the Cherokee Nation will pay a $2 million PlatePay fee over the next three years. Additionally, all outstanding toll fees for vehicles with Cherokee tags will be waived.
The new agreement will also continue the practice of using funds generated from the sale of Cherokee Nation tags to support public services. A portion of these funds will go toward public schools, road improvements, and law enforcement, while any taxes or fees from vehicles primarily located outside the Cherokee Nation will be directed to infrastructure and public purposes.
The compact also includes provisions for residents living outside the Cherokee Nation’s boundaries. They will have the option to register their vehicles at either state or tribal tag offices, though they will be subject to the fees and taxes outlined in the agreement. In the coming years, counties such as Tulsa, Wagoner, and Muskogee will begin transitioning to the new compact model, and the agreement will allow vehicles registered under the previous compact to continue without requiring renewal from the state.
The Cherokee Nation will maintain its tag offices, providing services to citizens throughout the state. For vehicles “at-large,” meaning those registered outside the Cherokee Nation, a four-year transition period will allow those vehicles to continue using the tribe’s registration system without state interference. After this period, at-large vehicles will be able to renew their registrations at either state or tribal offices.
This new agreement marks a significant shift in the relationship between the Cherokee Nation and the state of Oklahoma, with both sides emphasizing cooperation and shared responsibility. As negotiations concluded, both leaders expressed optimism for the future of their partnership and the benefits it will bring to Cherokee citizens and the state as a whole.
