Vehicles: local agency charges: use of streets or highways.
Impact
By eliminating outdated references, SB 653 serves to streamline the legal framework regulating local agency charges associated with street usage. It reinforces the prohibition on new fees or charges, thereby protecting the interests of vehicle operators who could be liable for additional costs. This amendment is particularly significant for local agencies that might seek to regulate street usage through new financial measures, as it emphasizes reliance on existing state laws regarding financial impositions.
Summary
Senate Bill 653, introduced by Senator Wieckowski, proposes to amend Section 9400.8 of the Vehicle Code, which relates to the use of streets or highways by vehicles. The bill seeks to clarify existing provisions by deleting obsolete references that have been treated as redundant since a constitutional amendment approved by voters in the late 1980s. Specifically, it seeks to ensure that local agencies cannot impose any new taxes, permit fees, or charges for utilizing public streets or highways, barring certain exceptions for extra legal loads, which were established prior to June 1989.
Contention
While the bill predominantly contains technical amendments, it may not escape scrutiny concerning the broader implications of local control over public infrastructure. Critics might argue that even minor adjustments might limit local agencies' abilities to generate revenue necessary for maintaining and improving road infrastructure. Thus, although SB 653 is largely non-controversial, it invites discussions about the balance between state regulations and local autonomy in managing transportation-related revenues.