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State Triples Vehicle Fees If McClintock is able to get hundreds of thousands of signatures needed in the coming months, his measures will be on the ballot in November 2004. McClintock accused the Davis administration of exploiting a clause in the state Constitution that makes it extremely difficult for opponents of the tax to stop the state from collecting it until the appeals process has been exhausted in a court challenge. That could take years. "They know it is an illegal act but the Constitution prevents injunctions to prevent collections of the tax, so they know they can get away with it for the next several years," he said, adding that Peace's argument that the tax hike is legal is "absolute horse manure." Others rushed in to defend the increase. A large coalition of police and firefighter groups promised to campaign vigorously against any measure to repeal the car tax, since their services are supported by car tax revenue. In a letter, the group warned that any lawmaker who supports a repeal "is anti-public safety and is putting California citizens and our communities at risk." Several Republicans rallied behind a lawsuit that the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn. is preparing to file in the coming days that would block the increase, but not abolish the tax altogether. "When [taxpayers] get that bill, they're going to get mad," said Assemblyman Tony Strickland (R-Thousand Oaks) from a Simi Valley auto dealership, where he announced support for the lawsuit. "I think it's wrong that people would have to choose between a gallon of milk and registering a car." Assemblyman Tim Leslie (R-Tahoe City) said the tax hike is "sneaky dishonest" and "will not stand." Meanwhile, the DMV braced for panicked motorists trying to pay their car tax bills before the rates go up. Officials from the department said that is not an option. "Nothing will be served by showing up at the DMV and attempting to pay the fee early," said Bill Cather, legislative director for the department. At DMV offices across Southern California, drivers expressed anger over the rate hike. Nicholas Burson is thinking he may no longer be able to afford his 2003 Lincoln Navigator, which currently carries a $600-a-year license fee. At $1,800 a year — and with the price of gas eating a hole in his wallet — the SUV might cost too much. "There's a lot of things that are making me start to question this vehicle," said the 25-year-old from Huntington Beach. "A Ford Focus seems awfully appealing right now." As he left a DMV office near downtown Los Angeles, Kyung-Min Huh, 27, said he was upset over the tripled tax. "I don't know how I'm going to pay extra, but I guess I'll have to," he said. Some motorists even suggested the rate hike is reason to support the mounting effort to recall Gov. Gray Davis from office. "I'd recall [Davis] if I could," said Jef Newby, 24, as he stood in line at the Ventura DMV office to register his 1988 Honda Accord. "Fees are bad enough as it is." Others, however, were more understanding, saying the alternative to paying higher taxes was worse. Arturo Espinoza, a 42-year-old auto mechanic from Ventura, said he'd rather pay more in vehicle fees than have no freeways to drive on. "Somebody's got to pay for them — roads don't come out of the ground," he said. *
Times staff writers Mike Anton, Hugo Martin, Joy Woodson and Andy Olsen contributed to this report.
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