Checks not in the mail ...yet

Rebate checks are printed and waiting to go to Nevadans. But they won't actually be mailed until next week because the database designed to tell people the amount and status of their checks is still being debugged.

That database will provide operators at the state's 1-800 telephone number with information to give callers asking about their rebates. It will also provide the information directly at a state-designated Web site.

Steve George, public information officer for Gov. Kenny Guinn, said they had hoped to mail the checks before the end of September but that database is necessary so the state can respond to questions about the program.

"We want people to be able to go (online) and put in their name and car number to see what their rebate is and the status of it," he said.

The Web site address and 800 number will both be released when the checks are mailed.

The checks will go to owners of vehicles registered in Nevada during calendar 2004, refunding the fees they paid for that year. The minimum size of any check will be $75 and the maximum $275. About 1.8 million checks will be mailed out to those vehicle owners.

In addition, an estimated 60,000 seniors who hold state identification cards but didn't have a vehicle registered that year will receive $75 checks.

Seniors without a registered vehicle but who still hold a driver's license will also get checks under a legal interpretation of the rebate legislation by the Legislative Counsel Bureau. Those checks, however, will be mailed at a later date because DMV is still trying to identify those individuals.

- Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.