Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Registration fees for all types of vehicles would go up, some dramatically, under a bill a Senate committee approved Tuesday.
Sen. Wayne Harper, R-Taylorsville, said all vehicles have the same impact on the roads and SB231 aims to level the playing field.
Currently, the state charges $43 to register vehicles under 12,000 pounds. The average passenger car weighs about 4,000 pounds.
Under the bill, vehicles powered by gas, diesel and propane would be charged $53. Natural gas and hybrids would cost $103, while electric vehicles would cost $113.
Harper said the increases would generate about $28 million for local road maintenance.
Resident George Chapman told the Senate Transportation and Public Utilities and Technology Committee that he opposes the bill because electric car owners already pay a 6 percent franchise tax.
"It’s almost like the tax on another home," he said. "That's the tradeoff with driving an electric or natural gas vehicle."
Chapman said the state shouldn't be penalizing innovation but encouraging use of alternative fuel vehicle.
The Utah Taxpayers Association favors the bill. Research analyst Kelsey White told the committee that the association views registration fees on non-gas vehicles as a "surrogate" for the gas tax. She said it supports more equalized contributions for all vehicles that use the road.
The committee unanimously endorsed the bill. It now goes to the Senate floor.
— Dennis Romboy
