Beginning April 21, faculty, staff and students will be able to register their vehicles for the Fall 2006 semester online.

The UTM Department of Public Safety predicts that this new registration will be more efficient.

“Instead of coming up here to fill out forms, you will be able to do it online,” said Lt. Ray Coleman.

The advantage to this process is time saved.

Permits would be purchased on the Banner Web site, accesible through the myUTM portal.

After paying the $26 charge, permit holders will receive confirmation statements.

Although the registration process opens April 21, faculty, staff and students must wait until Aug. 1, 2006 to pick their permits. Current permits do not expire until that date. All permits are valid for a calendar year from Aug. 1.

While the Internet allows permit holders to avoid long lines at Public Safety, they will still have to pick up their permits in person. A student ID or other proof of identification will be required. Faculty and staff still receive vehicle registration forms in their campus mail boxes.

Donna Brewer, secretary for the Sociology Department, said, “It will be beneficial, but you still have to stand in line. Faculty and staff will get permits earlier than students, so they do not have to stand in line.” While you still have to stand in line for the permit, you will in the end save time through the online process.

One student suggested an alternative way to register vehicles. “It would not bother me to already have the $26 included in the tuition because I have to buy a sticker regardless,” said Jennifer Hickerson of Lynnvile, Tenn.

The online program was created internally with the help of Information Technology Services, at no additional cost to the Department of Public Safety.