California is trying to additional its push for extra eco-friendly roads. The San Francisco Chronicle reviews that lawmakers are contemplating a brand new mandate that will cost extra weight-based registration charges to drivers who personal heavy automobiles, vehicles, or SUVs.
Currently, California is just one of some different states that cost registration charges primarily based on the worth of a car somewhat than its weight; 14 different states cost house owners car registration charges primarily based on weight. That may change if a brand new invoice is handed.
Chris Ward, an meeting member from San Diego, has proposed AB251. Rather than soar proper in and implement weight-based registration charges, the invoice would have the California Transportation Commission examine whether or not or not these new registration charges would work, together with the potential advantages that include them, primarily cash. The examine would take a look at how a lot income the state may generate from these charges, which might then go to pay for avenue enchancment initiatives throughout the state.
More importantly, the examine would additionally take a look at the correlation between heavy automobiles and site visitors fatalities, one thing that an increasing number of have gotten conscious of as an increasing number of EVs seem on the nation’s roads. In a press release to The Chronicle, Assemblyman Ward famous that state officers are conscious of this. “We know there are studies suggesting fatality rates can be higher for crashes involving heavier vehicles — especially models weighing several thousand pounds,” he mentioned in a press release.
If handed, hundreds of thousands of drivers could be affected. Data from the California Department of Motor Vehicles exhibits that of all of the automobiles registered within the state, one in six automobiles could be subjected to weight-based registration charges.
Source: jalopnik.com