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A Vexing Vehicle Registration Increase

This week we are going to address issues related more to policies and laws and less about construction projects. My apologies, but it will take me a few days to not only adjust to this hemisphere’s time zone but also get updated on all of the road projects under way.

Boone is taxed: He received his vehicle registration form and discovered his fee jumped from $11 to $127. He is more than upset about the increase and asked for an explanation.

So here goes: This was a government services tax increased passed by state legislators in 2009. For those of you keeping score at home, it was Senate Bill 429. The law decreased the annual depreciation of vehicles by 10 percent. For example, the tax on a 1-year-old vehicle is now based on 95 percent of its value rather than 85 percent. The value of the vehicle drops 10 percent each year until the car is 10 years old. Vehicles older than nine years used to be taxed based on 5 percent of their value; that jumped to 15 percent.

Also, the minimum tax was increased from $6 to $16. Registration fees specifically were not changed and remain at $33 for private vehicles.

Gerald is fed up: The last time I was at the DMV to renew my license, it seemed to be organized. Now not so. First thing you get your picture taken, second you go to another area to get the number, third you are required to fill out another layer of paperwork with information they already have on their computer and fourth you pay and do not get a license. What’s up?

The license renewal process changed with the introduction of the advanced secure issuance identification cards (also known as Real ID) earlier this year. The Legislature ditched the requirements to acquire Real ID cards, but the new process remained.

The photo is required first in part to prevent people from providing the government false documents.

It used to be that if someone were caught, they could walk out the door. Now the DMV has a photograph of the person submitting bogus paperwork. The new process is just another security effort.

Several readers are aghast: Why are we seeing gas prices continue to creep up?

If it helps any, our prices haven’t increased as much as our friends to the north in Reno. Compared with last month, our prices went up 2 cents a gallon; in Reno, they increased by 5 cents a gallon. Also, we’re well below the nationwide average increase of 7 cents a gallon.

The answer to the question, one reason is that Americans drive more in July and August, so the demand for gasoline supports the higher prices, according to AAA. The economy and predictions of a significantly active storm season also contribute to the higher costs of fuel. AAA spokesman Michael Geeser said that combination “influence how investors look at oil as a commodity to invest in. These factors have helped to keep the price for a barrel of oil around the $80 mark.”

Rick and RoLayne are shocked: When the bridge on Sahara Avenue that goes across the Desert Rose Golf course was built about 20 years ago, the county paved Sahara from Nellis Boulevard going west to Lamb Boulevard and from the bridge going east. This left about one-half mile of Sahara east of the golf course in poor condition. Since that time the county has re-paved the same sections again and again leaving the same section unimproved. Our mechanic asked if I live in the country on a washboard road because we have changed shock absorbers on our cars so many times. Can you assist us?

Hopefully your automotive woes will soon be over. The latest from the folks at Clark County is that this section of roadway is included in the latest bundle of stimulus money designated for road improvements. Repaving work started this week, but it’s unclear in which order each road on the list will be addressed. The good news is all of the work is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. Aside from Sahara, improvements will be made to Lamb Boulevard, Twain Avenue, Paradise Road, Jones Boulevard and Eastern Avenue.

If you have a question, tip or tirade, call Adrienne Packer at (702) 387-2904, or send an e-mail to roadwarrior@reviewjournal.com. Include your phone number.

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