Mason Treat Act To Go Into Effect In September

The Mason Treat Act goes into effect September 1 and impacts the way you register your car after purchase.

Mason is the son of Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, who realized there was a problem after his son was pulled over for no tag and nearly killed.

Dashcam video shows the moment Mason Treat and a Canadian County Sheriff's Deputy were nearly killed during a traffic stop last year. Troopers say another driver fell asleep at the wheel and plowed into both Mason and the deputy.

"I was in the hospital for 20 days. Part of my skull was taken out. I had 8 broken ribs. My back messed up and stuff, my knees are messed up," said Mason.

16-year-old Mason was stopped for not having a tag on his new car. He was waiting for his tag from the state and didn't have a paper tag because it was a sale between individuals.

"I started asking questions about why was he on the side of the road so long, what happened and realized that there was a loophole in Oklahoma's law that on those private sales between two individuals," said OK Sen. Greg Treat.

Come September, if you buy a car through a private sale you will pre-register the VIN at OkCars.gov within two days of purchase.

"The Turnpike Authority will know; the cities will know. So, if I park out here illegally in downtown Tulsa. You won't get the ticket. I will get the ticket because people will know that it's me. But most importantly, a metal tag will be mailed to me too, so I won't be driving around without a tag for those 60 days, and law enforcement will know I'm in the process of getting all that taken care of," said Sen. Treat.

The new law also changes the way dealerships issue temporary tags. Paper tags will now be issued to dealers by the state and are valid for only 10 days.

The hope is that it will crack down on fraudulent paper tags and unnecessary traffic stops like the one that almost killed Mason and an Oklahoma Deputy. 

"It's been really nice to see all the support and love," said Mason.

For more information on the Mason Treat Act, click here.