Sudden closure; NC DMV license plate agency permanently closed, under investigation

PRE News & Ideas | By Annette Weston

Published November 17, 2023 at 11:36 AM EST

The North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles’ Jacksonville License Plate Agency is closed until further notice.

Marty Homan, communications manager for the NCDMV, confirms that the office has been shuttered because of contract violations by the operator of the agency.

Homan says an investigation is underway, and because of that investigation he was unable to give details of the nature of the violations.

The Jacksonville agency had been operated by Cecil Hargett, Jr. under the business name of Hartag, LLC, since 1993.

NCDMV oversees license plate agencies, but they are managed by private businesses or local governments.

Customers are being directed to the license plate agencies in Wallace, Maysville or Havelock.

Annette Weston

Annette is originally a Midwest gal, born and raised in Michigan, but with career stops in many surrounding states, the Pacific Northwest, and various parts of the southeast. An award-winning journalist and mother of four, Annette moved to eastern North Carolina in 2019 to be closer to family – in particular, her two young grandchildren. It’s possible that a -27 day with a -68 windchill in Minnesota may have also played a role in that decision. In her spare time, Annette does a lot of kiddo cuddling, reading, and producing the coolest Halloween costumes anyone has ever seen. She has also worked as a diversity and inclusion facilitator serving school districts and large corporations. It’s the people that make this beautiful area special, and she wants to share those stories that touch the hearts of others. If you have a story idea to share, please reach out by email to westona@cravencc.edu.

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