Birthdays usually come with gifts and smiles, but for drivers, it should also come with a renewed license plate.

October 2006, April 2006 and October 2006. They're three different tags, each breaking the law. Can you spot the violation?

If not, Columbia County deputy Keith Warner likely will.

"It's kind of a sore thumb that sticks out on vehicles. The stickers change. It's pretty easy to tell when someone doesn't have a current sticker on their vehicle," Warner said.

If you're driving with an expired tag, deputies say they will find you and when they do, it'll cost you.

You'll first face a $119 fine from the probate judge. But more bad news is on the way.

"If they're not paid by midnight on their birthday, then they're charged a 10% tax penalty as well as a tag fee," Columbia County Deputy Tag Agent Dwight Johnson said.

And there's no excuses accepted at the tag office since drivers are given 60 days to pay the tax.

"They didn't realize it was due on their birthday. They thought it was due at the end of the month. A lot of them, I just forget," Johnson said.

But don't try telling any of those excuses to this deputy.

"If you see it, you stop and write a citation," Warner said.

So when your birthday approaches, remember to renew so you're not stopped by the men in blue.

The tag office wants to remind drivers of the importance of properly attaching registration stickers to your vehicle.

The sticker for the new year needs to placed on the right side of the license plate.