New WA vehicle licensing bill

[Macleod]

This was posted on another car forum, and I wanted to pass it on to everyone here in case you have not seen it.

There is a bill that the Washington State Legislature is trying to
pass in Olympia that, if successful, will directly add huge costs to our
vehicle license fees. Everyone needs to know about so this situation
so that you can contact your representatives and voice your objection.

The bill is SB 6900 and it adds an "engine displacement" fee to the
vehicle license tabs upon renewal.

The fee has a varied amount depending on the size of the vehicle's
engine:

Engine Size (liters) Rate Schedule
Up to 1.9 $0
2.0 - 2.9 $70
3.0 - 3.9 $225
4.0 - 4.9 $275
5.0 - 5.9 $325
6.0 - 7.9 $400
8.0 or over $600

For each car & truck that you own, calculate the rate by matching the engine size in liters to the dollar amount. Add the amounts for each
vehicle and you'll see that the average two car family will be paying
$500+ every year in "displacement fees" on top of the normal license fees.
If you have three vehicles, you'll be paying even more.

The average family is already struggling with the high cost of
gasoline, electricity, food and everything else, and our lawmakers want us to pay more, thinking we have unlimited deep pockets. This will do great damage to the budgets of retirees on fixed incomes as well.

Now is the time to be very vocal against this bill.

I have contacted all of our representatives, and I would encourage
everyone reading this to do the same.

Here's the web page for the bill where you can read the text:

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summ...6900&year=2007

Here's the link for contacting your representatives:

Find Your Legislator

If we don't threaten mass rebellion over this, they'll pass this bill
and we'll be paying huge fees every year on top o f their increase in
the gas tax. They have to know that we won't stand for any more
taxes or increase in licensing fees.

I've told my representatives that I will actively work to see that any
lawmaker that supports this bill is replaced at election time.

Please contact your legislators, then copy the text of this email,
and forward it to as many people as possible that you know in Washington

State, and encourage them to contact their representatives and
strongly voice their objection to this bill.

Marlene K. Wenger
Attorney at Law
107 N. Tower, #16
Centralia, WA 98531
Phone: 360-623-1060
Fax: 360-623-1059

[jhaydeno]

Boy, that's a crock! If they claim this is an 'impact fee' because large engines use more gas, I would respond with, 'yes, so I'm already paying more federal and state taxes because I purchase more gasoline then a smaller engine, so why are you double dipping!?'

[Jenks]

Double dipping/double taxation is the norm, even though it's supposed to be illegal. Do they really think this is going to dissuade people from buying large displacement engine vehicles? What a joke.

[beyers]

Just another way to "offset" the $30 license fee we (the voters) voted in several years ago!

[chewey46]

No f-in way!!!!!!!!!!

I have an '81 GMC Truck with a 7.4 (454) in it....... $400 for a rig that I drive once every 2 weeks....... WHAT THE F !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[couver]

Thanks for the heads-up on this. I just e-mailed all my reps to lodge my dissatisfaction with this. Like Chewey46, I also have a pickup with a big engine that I only drive every once in a while and this seems ridiculous. Here is my e-mail:

"I just read a synopsis of SB 6900 proposing an "engine displacement" tax on our vehicles. I am highly opposed to this. I do not believe this is a fair way of taxing; I have two vehicles that are both lightly driven, but, since they have 4.0L and 5.7L engines, would cost me a lot of extra money to own if this bill was passed. Seems very unfair since my combined mileage on both vehicles is less than 10,000 miles per year, which is probably less than the norm for even one car. Enough taxes already!

Don't even get me started on my huge property tax bills that just arrived in the mail or the $20+ per month in state and local taxes just on my cell phone bill alone! Or the taxes on my utilities, gas, retail purchases, etc. It is getting hard to earn a decent living these days -- I think I work about 6 months out of the year just to pay all the taxes. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. I am self-employed and don't have some cushy government pension to fall back on. Give us all a break and forget about new taxes and figure out a way to run things on the budget you have.

While we are it, why don't you ban metal-studded tires that tear up the roads and aren't any better than the dual-compound tires available today (i.e., Bridgestone Blizzaks) -- that would probably save many thousands a year in road repairs right there."

[SafetyDave]

I doubt this will fly.... I'm sure Timmy Iman will be all over this too as tab tax is his baby. Not a big fan of Timmy, but he does save the tax payers money even though are roads need SO much work.

[Pralix]

SafetyDave previously said:

I doubt this will fly.... I'm sure Timmy Iman will be all over this too as tab tax is his baby. Not a big fan of Timmy, but he does save the tax payers money even though are roads need SO much work.

The roads need so much work because it is not politically correct for them to spend money on roads. The priorities are way out of whack with what is needed. That last gas tax was pushed on the basis that 520 and the viaduct would get replaced. Guess what? Now they are trying to figure out how to pay for those projects by adding more taxes (tolls). Highway 2 needs major work, it keeps getting brought up in the legislature but it never goes anywhere. People are dying on Hwy 2 but they don't seem to think it is an emergency.

[007FJ]

Found out this from, on NWFJCC... Don't worry they can't do it to them selves most drive big SUV's

BDFJ
Site Admin




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Found out from my wife that this bill died in committee Feb 8th.
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[couver]

I got a response to my complaint -- looks like this is dead...

Brian,

Thank you for taking the time to contact me to express your opposition
to Senate Bill 6900, which will establish vehicle engine displacement
and emissions fees. Like you, I strongly oppose SB6900. This bill
would place an additional tax burden on citizens based on the type of
vehicle they drive. I don't feel this is an acceptable proposal. There
is good news, it did not even get a hearing in the Senate and doesn't
look like it is going anywhere. In the unlikely event that it does, I
want to assure you that as a member of the House Transportation
Committee, I will actively lobby against this bill both in committee and
on the House floor. I am working hard to make sure it does not pass.
Please stay in touch.

Thank you,

Deb

Deb Wallace
State Representative
17th Legislative District

Check out my legislative website: Rep. Deb Wallace: 17th District, Washington State House Democrats