By Liz Beavers
lbeavers@newstribune.info
tribune managing editor

KEYSER — With a new compliance officer now on board, Mineral County’s campaign to put an end to illegally tagged vehicles is moving forward once again.
Compliance Officer Jim Endler, Assessor Rose Ann Maine, Sheriff Gary White and Prosecuting Attorney Lynn Nelson met with the Mineral County Commissioners Tuesday to update the officials on the program and discuss any concerns they might have.
The program, designed to crackdown on illegally registered vehicles, was launched in January 2007, after county officials received numerous complaints about the number of out-of-state vehicles that had been spotted throughout the county.
Under the guidance of Compliance Officer Vince Pisciotta, the program resulted in thousands of dollars in fines being collected and the number of illegal vehicles being reduced.
With Endler now in that position, the officials hope that success rate will continue in the right direction.
“It appears, from what I have seen in the Frankfort District, that the numbers are going down,” Nelson said. “I used to see 10 or 12 vehicles over there; now maybe I’ll see one or two.”
Nelson noted that part of the program’s success in that end of the county may have been precipitated by the distribution of fliers which the assessor distributed through the schools.
Endler said there are still a lot of illegally registered vehicles, however, citing Ridgeley as one community where he has seen quite a few.
“But then we’ve got it in Keyser and Elk Garden too,” he said.
Maine noted that some of the vehicles might be
driven by West Virginia residents but are registered to a business located in Maryland. While those tags are not illegal, they are still subject to assessment.
Sometimes, White added, if a resident complains about such a vehicle and  notices that the Maryland tags remain on the vehicle, “they think (Endler’s) not doing his job.”
Commissioner Wayne Spiggle said it would appear, however, that the program “is having an affect” on those vehicles which are illegal, and suggested that the group plan to give monthly updates to the commissioners during their 8:30 a.m. staff meetings.
Commission President Janice LaRue said uniforms have been ordered for Endler and the other two compliance officers, Jim Hawk and Melissa Kidwell, who will do double duty as litter control officers once they are able to attend training for that program.
Spiggle said they are looking for “cross functionality” for the three code enforcement officers, with their duties to be split among animal control (Hawk and Kidwell), out-of-state tags (Endler), and litter control (all three).
The officials continue to urge Mineral County residents to turn in anyone they suspect might have illegally registered vehicles,, and those who do, may remain anonymous.
“We never, ever reveal our sources,” Maine said. “It’s confidential.”