900 DMV REGISTRATION NOTICES LOSE THEIR WAY.

Byline: Jaxon Van Derbeken Daily News Staff Writer

As many as 900 Los Angeles County motorists have received late registration bills from the Department of Motor Vehicles - with 60 percent late penalties - despite never receiving a first notice in the mail, authorities said.

Department of Motor Vehicles officials say they don't know why bills that were due the week of April 12 to 18 had not arrived via mail. The bills were supposed to be sent out in January.

``The bills left here, after they left here, we don't know what happened,'' said DMV spokesman Bill Madison, noting that the DMV has now received several complaints. ``Some people knew their registration was up and hadn't seen anything yet, they called up to find out why.''

A large area of Los Angeles failed to get bills, including those living in ZIP codes 90200 to 91405, and especially in the 91300 to 91399 areas.

Madison said that about 800 to 900 motorists are believed affected.

``If someone fits in that ZIP code range and time frame, calls in and says, `Hey, I didn't get a notice,' the manager they talk with has the discretion to waive the penalties if he or she feels it is a legitimate complaint,'' Madison said.