Seminole Nation Holds Meeting Addressing Tribal Plate Issue

The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma called an emergency meeting of its General Council on Friday night, following a recent stretch of days stoked with anxiety concerning a widespread Facebook post.

In the post, a woman from the Otoe-Missouria tribe received a ticket for having a tribal plate on her car but not residing within the jurisdiction of her tribe.

A spokesperson for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said in a statement that these rules have existed since 1993, and that the agency is not under a new directive to begin enforcing the law. But, Indigenous leaders across Oklahoma have pointed to years of a mutual understanding that, until now, meant little to no interference.

OHP full statement:

There are two circumstances in which an Indian living in Oklahoma may use a tribal tag in lieu of a state-issued tag:

• Pursuant to the United States Supreme Court's holding in Okla. Tax Comm'n v. Sac & Fox Nation, 508 U.S. 14 (1993), Indians may use a tribal tag if they (1) have registered their vehicles through the tribe and (2) reside and principally garage their vehicle in the tribe's Indian country.

• For tribes with a valid compact with the state, members of those tribes may lawfully use a tribal tag no matter where the person lives.

Other than these two circumstances, all Oklahomans must register their vehicles with an Oklahoma tag and registration. Oklahomans who fail to do so are subiect to enforcement under the Oklahoma Vehicle License and Registration Act, which may include a misdemeanor citation and/or impoundment of the vehicle.

"We report," said Seminole Chief Lewis Johnson, while speaking about his tribe's voluntary participations in the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Telecommunications System, despite not having a motor vehicle compact with the state. "We have fully cooperated with the law enforcement agencies within our reservation."

Only three tribes have motor vehicle compacts with the state and are unaffected by the enforcement. Those tribes are Choctaw, Cherokee, and Chickasaw.

Like the Seminole Nation, other tribes have also released statements or posted to social media following the viral post; each affirming similar stances of concern and intrigue.

The Seminole Nation gave letters to all its citizens with tribal plates, regardless of if they live within their tribal jurisdiction or not. Listed among the recommendations in that letter was the suggestion to not argue with law enforcement if they are pulled over, and to forward any examples of this type of citation to the Seminole Attorney General's office.