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Some tag agents ignore donation-request law
They're required to inform clients of $1 organ education choice.
 
By ANN KELLEY
Published: 11/2/2009  2:22 AM
Last Modified: 11/2/2009  3:52 AM

OKLAHOMA CITY — Some Oklahoma tag agents are breaking a law that requires them to ask their customers to consider giving $1 for organ donation education.

The 2001 law mandates that tag agents and their employees inform every person obtaining a driver's license, identification card, title or tag of their choice to donate. Some tag agencies in the past 12 months have collected nothing, records show.

"I don't think tag agents are purposely thumbing their nose at the law, but it's obvious some aren't taking it seriously," said Jeff Segell, an Oklahoma City tag agent and former president of The Oklahoma Tag Agent Group.

"We don't really know what else to do, but keep emphasizing what a worthy cause this is."

Click here to read the complete article at NewsOK.com.




akelley@opubco.com
By ANN KELLEY

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Elusive, the burbs (11/2/2009 2:42:28 AM)
I've never been asked but I don't think they should ask people that in front of others. It puts people on the spot. It should be written, you checkmark yes or no if you want to donate.
Report Comment
seymore1965, Tulsa (11/2/2009 6:16:41 AM)
Had I known, when I bought my tag, I would've donated. My friend died because she needed a liver transplant. Medically, nothing could be done for her except liver transplantation.
Report Comment
fld11, (11/2/2009 7:37:12 AM)
We don't need the government pan handling. This is supposed to be a professional business (theoretically, of course), and begging for $1 is absurd. I wouldn't ask either.
Report Comment
taj1958, Henryetta (11/2/2009 8:00:20 AM)
When it is my time to go they can have all my organs,since i'm an organ donor.I understand that
people need organs to save their lives,but tag agency shouldn't have to be the ones to ask people.Besides that aren't we paying enough on tags.People are already donating blood and organs
what do they want next our paychecks!
Report Comment
Skeptic, Tulsa (11/2/2009 8:23:45 AM)
There are better ways to give to the charity of your choice than by trusting a tag agent to submit the money. State tag agencies are contract laborers for the state, not state employees. They make their profits from a very small percentage of each transaction and some "add on" small fees, i.e., for copies, postage, that go to their bottom line. (Be sure to compare your handwritten pink receipt to the computer generated receipt with the state logo.) Once you give your $1 to a tag agent, there's no guarantee it will leave the agency for it's intended purpose.

While organ and tissue donation is important, so is cancer research, sickle cell anemia research and many other beneficial projects. This law is some politician's pet project and should be eliminated.
Report Comment
my view, Sand Springs (11/2/2009 8:31:59 AM)
Skeptic,

For once we agree.
---------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------
I've never been asked either and if I was it would be a waste of time. I'm not donating, I don't care who is standing around. I march to my own drum beat and care less what others think.
Report Comment
AllSmiles, Sperry (11/2/2009 9:16:01 AM)
I have never heard of this before. I have been asked if I was an organ donor but not if I wanted to donate $1.
Report Comment
sr71v3, (11/2/2009 9:46:07 AM)
Organ donation selection has been available on our licenses for many years. Those who are uninformed are willfully so.

If one receives a "donated" organ, is there a charge for the organ - or just the surgical procedures?
Report Comment
justiceawaits, Claremore (11/2/2009 10:01:19 AM)
I would flat refuse to ask either.
The state has no right to force its citizens to beg.
Report Comment
LIFESHARERS, Nashville (11/2/2009 10:14:25 AM)
Your story about Organ Donation highlighted the tragic shortage of human organs for transplant operations.

Over half of the 100,000 Americans on the national transplant waiting list will die before they get a transplant. Most of these deaths are needless. Americans bury or cremate 20,000 transplantable organs every year.

There is a simple way to put a big dent in the organ shortage – give donated organs first to people who have agreed to donate their own organs when they die.

Giving organs first to organ donors will convince more people to register as organ donors. It will also make the organ allocation system fairer. People who aren't willing to share the gift of life should go to the back of the waiting list as long as there is a shortage of organs.

Anyone who wants to donate their organs to others who have agreed to donate theirs can join LifeSharers. LifeSharers is a non-profit network of organ donors who agree to offer their organs first to other organ donors when they die. Membership is free. There is no age limit, parents can enroll their minor children, and no one is excluded due to any pre-existing medical condition. LifeSharers has over 13,000 members at this writing, including 88 members in Oklahoma.
Report Comment
Mar, Tulsa (11/2/2009 10:18:13 AM)
I agree with Elusive. People should be able to check mark on the form if they want to donate $1.

Kind of like when I use to work at J C Penney and we were required to ask each customer if they wanted to apply for a credit card and receive a whole 10% off their purchase at that time. I hated asking that, probably half wouldn't qualify anyway. I hated putting customers on the spot. If they wanted to open an account, they would inquire.
Report Comment
anarchynation, (11/2/2009 10:21:17 AM)
why would anyone want to donate anything to the government!!! the steal from us everyday 365 days a year!!!
Report Comment
Few Clothes, America (11/2/2009 1:29:40 PM)
"Throw my brain in a hurrican, the blind can have my eyes, and the deaf can take both of my ears if they don't mind the size".

"Give my stomach to Milwaukee if they run out of beer. Put my socks in a ceder box, just get them out of her. Venus Di Milo can have my arms. Look out, I have your nose, give my heart to the junk man and give my love to Rose.

John Prine
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Few Clothes, America (11/2/2009 1:30:35 PM)
"Throw my brain in a hurrican, the blind can have my eyes, and the deaf can take both of my ears if they don't mind the size".

"Give my stomach to Milwaukee if they run out of beer. Put my socks in a ceder box, just get them out of her. Venus Di Milo can have my arms. Look out, I got your nose, give my heart to the junk man and give my love to Rose.

John Prine
Report Comment
Few Clothes, America (11/2/2009 1:31:08 PM)
OOPS! Sorry for the double.
Report Comment
lucky girl, mine (11/2/2009 1:38:07 PM)
They always have asked me and I always give it to them, really...it's a dollar.
Report Comment
DBJohn, Tulsa (11/2/2009 1:52:38 PM)
I agree that there is the need for organ donations. However I recently saw a story about a reported Japanese crime boss who came to the US and miraculously jumped ahead of all those on a waiting list.
Report Comment
Ric, Broken Arrow (11/2/2009 2:25:24 PM)
It's a law to make them ask?
Report Comment
Ric, Broken Arrow (11/2/2009 2:26:53 PM)
DBJohn

I read that article as well, I think there was a hint of CIA or something ghoulish going on with that one too.?
Report Comment
lizzy, Tulsa (11/2/2009 2:36:51 PM)
I've never been asked that question. If asked, I would say yes. Though I have no trouble saying no when asked that sort of question--it happens every time I go to Petsmart. (Help homeless animals? I already do, every day.)
Report Comment
SS_Hippy, Tulsa (11/2/2009 3:28:08 PM)
Double posts are ok when quoting John Prine
Report Comment
Few Clothes, America (11/2/2009 4:58:25 PM)
Thank's Hippy. I couldn't resist.
Report Comment
Corvetteguy, Tulsa (11/2/2009 7:13:48 PM)
The entire situation with tag agents has been somewhat corrupt ever since the days when State Senator Finis Smith got caught selling lucrative car tag agencies. Smith went to prison over his hidden slush find bank account overseas, being concealed to evade income taxes on the bribe money.
The local Tulsa Tag agency I used to go to would simply write up your ticket, adding the buck fifty fee to mail you your paperwork. If you told them you did not want to pay the fee, and would wait for your paperwork, your transaction took about a half hour longer than everyone else.
The State of Oklahoma has had more than it's fair share of crooked politial deals. Thank God the voters demanded term limits for State Representatives, State Senators, and Governors.
Report Comment
Skeptic, Tulsa (11/2/2009 9:20:36 PM)
I'll bet that was a midtown tag agency, Corvetteguy. Right?
Report Comment
Bliss, Okc (11/2/2009 11:31:58 PM)
Oh, Plzzzz....they ask if u are going to DONATE! Get it right! They sound like they are just trying to rip-off some extra money. They think we are STUPID out here in the real world. Disgusting. Bury them under the prison floor!
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