Motorists Targeted to Plug Budget Holes

Motorists Hit With Unfair Fees


Everyone agrees that state and local governments need sufficient resources to provide California’s citizens with vital services, such as education, public libraries, law enforcement, and
emergency services. But more often these days, state lawmakers and local
officials turn to motorists to generate funds to plug budget holes and
underwrite spending on a variety of projects-which, frankly, is
inappropriate and unfair.

For decades, motorists have paid taxes and fees to build and maintain roads, support the California Highway Patrol, and fund motorist-related services, such as the DMV. This makes sense because
motorists receive a direct benefit from such expenditures. But it’s
becoming commonplace for motorists to be targeted to pay for services
unrelated to driving, and the reason is simple: Levying a small fee on
each car can generate a great deal of money. For example, a $5 fee on
the 33 million registered vehicles in California generates well over
$150 million annually.

What’s more, state and local governments have discovered less obvious ways to obtain money by raising fees. A good example is traffic tickets, which now consist not only of a simple fine but also of
multiple added penalties that can quadruple a violation’s cost. For
instance, the base fee for a carpool-lane violation is $100, but nine
additional penalty fees, such as a “state court construction fund
fee”-levied despite the fact that most people don’t use the court system
to handle traffic tickets-bring the total to about $440. Such added
penalties generate hundreds of millions of dollars annually for state
and local governments.

Other examples: Some cities charge “crash fees” for fire and police services rendered at the scene of an auto collision, even though general taxes already pay for such services. Automated red-light cameras are
increasingly being used to issue $430 tickets to people who turn right
on a red light without completely stopping, the same amount as for more
dangerous straight-through red-light runners, the original reason for
installing the cameras. In 2009, the vehicle license fee (VLF, or car
tax) was increased from .65 percent to 1.15 percent. And this year,
lawmakers converted the gasoline sales tax into an excise tax, which
eased the voter-mandated protections on the use of the funds.

The Auto Club has been fighting such measures over the years and will continue to fight them. Government must come up with real solutions to budget issues, fairly allocate appropriate taxes and fees among the
population, and not focus on a single group, such as motorists, which
are perceived to be an easy target. The legislature is now deliberating
the 2010-11 budget and may again be considering additional motorist
taxes and fees. You can help make the voice of motorists heard. To learn
more and to contact your state and local representatives, visit
AAA.com/roadahead.

Thomas V. McKernan
Chief Executive Officer

Addendum:

For further information on how much motorists are being charged for traffic tickets, see this example:

I Owe How Much?

As anyone who has received a traffic ticket knows, there’s no such thing as a “simple” fine in California. For years, the state has been piling fees onto base fines, resulting in a total fine that’s many times
the base amount. Here, for example, is the fine for a seatbelt
violation:

Base fine: $20
State penalty assessment: $20
County penalty assessment: $14
Court security fee: $30
Conviction assessment: $35
DNA penalty assessment: $4
Court penalty assessment: $10
Surcharge: $4
EMS penalty assessment: $4
Total: $141

Does this penalty fee structure seem absurd to you? The Auto Club supports measures that reinforce safe driving and
treat drivers equitably. We also know that traffic laws exist to protect
motorists. But singling out motorists as an easy source of revenue is
unjust. If you agree, make your voice heard by contacting your state
assemblymember or senator. For more information, go to
AAA.com/roadahead.

http://www.aaa.com/roadahead



Views: 65

Comment

You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!

Join 12160 Social Network

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

John Miller replied to MAC's discussion BREAKING! UFO whistleblowers drop BOMBSHELL on D.C. | Redacted with Natali and Clayton Morris
"Crazy how these whistleblower stories are finally making it into bigger conversations. Makes you…"
1 hour ago
Burbia favorited tjdavis's blog post The Dems Love Their Demons
12 hours ago
John Miller commented on tjdavis's photo
Thumbnail

Comprehensive Coverage

"That car needs an exorcism, not an oil change."
15 hours ago
John Miller commented on tjdavis's blog post The Dems Love Their Demons
"If the Dems are dating demons, then that AI romance shoot was basically engagement photos."
15 hours ago
John Miller replied to cheeki kea's discussion Would-Be Trump Assassin Ryan Routh Gave Many Interviews with Mainstream Media
"Wouldn't be surprised if there's a whole lot more buried under the surface here."
15 hours ago
Less Prone favorited rlionhearted_3's photo
19 hours ago
Less Prone left a comment for John Miller
"Welcome John."
19 hours ago
Doc Vega posted a blog post

The Saga of Ape Canyon Revisited

 In the years that I’d written for the Plano Star Courier I got several invitations to go on…See More
20 hours ago
John Miller is now a member of 12160 Social Network
22 hours ago
Less Prone favorited tjdavis's photo
22 hours ago
tjdavis posted a photo
yesterday
Burbia posted a video

The lIIumlnatl Stallions: MethyIene Bluecifer & Mind-Control Horses [ FULL DOCUMENTARY ]

🐴🦄🐸 Get the NEW "lIIumlnatl Animal Coloring Book!" 🐴🦄🐸NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON - CLICK HERE: https://amzn.to/3SYgAkC🔑 Get MORE Access to the Secret Vid...
yesterday
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post Memorial Weekend Getaway Horror Story
"Less Prone thanks for your support Buddy! "
yesterday
Doc Vega replied to cheeki kea's discussion Would-Be Trump Assassin Ryan Routh Gave Many Interviews with Mainstream Media
"cheeki kea, I really appreciate the reporting of Sky News. I think they've done a great…"
yesterday
Doc Vega posted a blog post

When

 Sad blue eyed poet rehearses his craftJust took a salvo in the compartment aftHis chances of…See More
yesterday
cheeki kea replied to cheeki kea's discussion Would-Be Trump Assassin Ryan Routh Gave Many Interviews with Mainstream Media
"You're damn right there Doc V. but we may never know exactly where all the funding came from…"
Friday
cheeki kea commented on tjdavis's photo
Thumbnail

Me-Again

"Oh Look a new version of Megan, can't say the old version looked to flash either. Seems like…"
Friday
Doc Vega replied to cheeki kea's discussion Would-Be Trump Assassin Ryan Routh Gave Many Interviews with Mainstream Media
"This asshole had an incredible number of overseas connections and incoming money from unnamed…"
Wednesday
rlionhearted_3 posted photos
Wednesday
cheeki kea replied to cheeki kea's discussion Tartaria
"It's been interesting reading the comments from the Hungarian Tartaria fans on social media…"
Tuesday

© 2025   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted