To all you Coloradans who have paid late fees when registering your vehicles, gubernatorial candidate Scott McIn nis wants you to know he feels your pain.
The Grand Junction Republican is going to have to shell out the maximum $100 late fee in coming weeks when he registers what he calls his “cow-camp wagon.”
McInnis is not happy about the late fee, which is part of a bill Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter signed into law to raise more money for transportation.
“It’s a ‘speed-trap’ tax, in my opinion,” McInnis said. “It’s the sneakiness of it.”
Many Coloradans hit with late fees have been vocal about their unhappiness, but others have ripped tardy owners who drive around with expired plates.
The fees are expected to be a campaign issue.
Most Coloradans who are assessed late fees let their registrations lapse. In McInnis’ case, the custom-built wagon was delivered in January. It has been up on jacks while a drain and other equipment were installed.
“It’s got a bunk and a stove,” McInnis said. “It’s like the old sheep-camp wagons, except it has rubber wheels. It’s a trailer you tow up into the higher country.”
A few weeks ago, McInnis went to a Mesa County Motor Vehicle office to inquire about registration. That’s when he learned that because he got the title in January, he’s going to have late fees.
Under the previous law, the late fee was $10. Effective June 1, it increased to $25 a month, capped at $100, with no discretion to waive it.
McInnis’ situation is not unique.
Broomfield resident Tom Mueller said his 1986 Toyota Celica broke down, and it took months to find parts to get it drivable enough to take it for an emissions test. He doesn’t think he should be charged late fees.
Jefferson County Clerk Pam Anderson said some states offer what is called an “idle-vehicle permit” for owners who know they are going to be parking or working on their vehicles. The state still collects money for the permits, but the owners don’t face late fees when they register the vehicles.
She said she has been talking to Republican lawmakers in her district about that kind of permit.
The transportation measure — dubbed FASTER — is expected to raise $250 million annually to fix crumbling bridges and roads. The main provision increases auto-registration fees from an average of $32 to an average of $41 over a three-year period.
Ritter and Democrats said they chose the fee increase because it had the highest level of support among groups committed to finding more money for roads.
Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry led the Republican fight against the measure in the Democratic-controlled legislature.
Penry is also running for governor, and he and McIn nis have heard plenty about registration fees.
“I tell you, people are very angry over this,” McInnis said.
