There is growing concern within Oklahoma's Native American community that citizens will face fines for their tribal tags after a recent uptick of enforcement of rules regarding taxes and license plates.

 The Delaware Tribe of Indians, which is headquartered in Bartlesville, issued a statement Friday saying that their tribal tags should be valid. Chief Brad KillsCrow says Delaware Tribal tags are issued through the Cherokee Nation and covered by the compact. KillsCrow says if any Delaware Tribal member gets pulled over by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and issued a ticket for having a tribal tag, they should immediately contact his office.

Osage Nation Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bearhas said his office has not received any communication from Gov. Kevin Stitt’s office or OHP about a change in policy on tribal tags. Standing Bear says if Osage Nation elected officials come to a consensus that the tribe needs to enter into a new compact with the state, he will work on that quickly.

Governor Kevin Stitt's office issued a statement, calling the controversy a public safety issue that puts law enforcement at risk by tribal governments not sharing vehicle registration information with DHS. Stitt's office says the Oklahoma highway Patrol is simply enforcing the law and that memerbs of tribes with valid compacts with the state will not be ticketed.

Currently, the state of Oklahoma only has tribal tag compacts with the Cherokee, Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations.