COLIUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio is spending $18,000 in overtime to erase a backlog in the processing of mail-in vehicle registrations.

For the past month, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles has been late in mailing out registrations to motorists because of staffing shortages and computer problems.

Ohio Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Lindsay Komlanc said the bureau authorized 250 hours of overtime last week and 230 hours this week for 26 workers.

Because of the bureau's delay, drivers can ask the state for a 45-day extension notice to show law enforcement if they are pulled over while driving with expired tags.