Increase over three year period



By REBECCA

VAN DYKE

ALAMOSA — Vehicle registration fees will see a definite increase this year as drivers re-register their vehicles and trailers with the Alamosa County Clerk and Recorder.

With the passing of Senate Bill 09-108, based on the weight of the vehicle or trailer, an extra fee will be tacked onto registration fees to enrich road and bridge funding to go towards repairing Colorado’s dilapidated bridges and overpasses that have so far gone neglected.

Governor Bill Ritter signed SB 09-108, known as the FASTER law. According to the governor’s office, it will serve two purposes: to create jobs and increase road safety for drivers. The road and bridge repair will create thousands of jobs in Colorado, even if only temporarily until the projects are complete. “With this bill, we’ll be able to begin work on the many unsafe bridges and roads all across the state, work that has been neglected for far too long,” said Ritter. “And at a time when the entire country is suffering from a recession, this legislation will let us save jobs, create jobs, and help us get our economy moving again.”

Not only have fees increased, but penalties for late registration could cause an extra burden.

For vehicles or trailers 2,000 lbs or less, citizens can expect to see an increase of $22.50 for fiscal year 2009/2010; $25.75 for 2010/2011; and $29 for 2011/2012. For vehicles or trailers 2,001 to 5,000 can expect to see $32 for 2009/2010, $36.50 for 2010/2011, and $41 for 2011/2012. For vehicles 5,001 to 10,000 pounds, there will be an increase of $39.50 in 2009/2010, $45.24 in 2010/2011, and $51 in 2011/2012. For vehicles 10,001 to 16,000 pounds, there will be an increase of $51.50 in 2009/2010, $58.75 in 2010/2011, and $66 in 2011/2012. Finally, for vehicles exceeding 16,000 pounds, there will be an increase of $55 in 2009/2010, $63 in 2010/2011, and $71 in 2011/2012. According to the Governor’s office, more than 80 percent of all vehicles registered in Colorado weigh less than 5,000 pounds. Rental cars will have an additional $2 per day fee and are exempt from the vehicle registration fee increase.

There are exceptions to these fees. Collector plated vehicles, which only need to be registered every 5 years are charged the add-on fees for one year and the fee increase for farm trucks and tractors is half of the amount listed above. The fees do not apply to vehicles over 50 years old with horseless carriage registration. After 2011/2012, the fees should remain consistent from year to year.

Not only will registration fees jump, but if a vehicle is registered late past the 30-day grace period, the owner will be charged an additional $25 per month past the re-registration date up to $100.

It is expected to generate $22 million annually across the state to fund transportation projects, “including more than 100 structurally deficient and functionally obsolete bridges,” according to the Office of the Governor. When fully implemented, FASTER will allocate $150 million to state and local road safety projects based on the existing distribution formula of 60 percent to the state, 22 percent to counties, and 18 percent to municipalities. The State Transit and Rail Fund will receive $5 million for grants for local governments for local transit projects.

“Can we get bullet proof glass put in,” asked County Clerk Melanie Woodward from Alamosa County Commissioners. Woodward was concerned about the people who only register their trailers or other vehicles when they need to use it. A trailer that once cost $17 to register can go up to $117 if paid too late.

Alamosa County will retain $10 of the late fee and the rest will go to the state, according to Woodward. She also reported that the road and bridge safety fee would bring $300,000 into the county, “but that’s yet to be seen,” she said.

“Don’t bet on it,” agreed Alamosa County Commissioner George Wilkinson.

The law goes into effect on June 1, 2009.