Legislature(2021 - 2022)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/03/2022 01:30 PM Senate TRANSPORTATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB166 | |
| SB170 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 166 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 170 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 166-ONE LICENSE PLATE PER VEHICLE
1:34:34 PM
CHAIR MYERS announced the consideration of CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO.
166(FIN) "An Act relating to the issuance of vehicle
registration plates; and providing for an effective date."
1:34:58 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KEVIN MCCABE, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau,
Alaska, sponsor of HB 166, paraphrased the sponsor statement.
[Original punctuation provided.]
HB166 would direct the DMV to reduce issuance of the
number of vehicle license plates from two to one rear
plate.
HB166's main focus is the cost savings to the State of
Alaska's budget. It would conserve resources of many
departments and bring Alaska in line with other states
moving to a single plate requirement. As of today,
twenty other states no longer require vehicles to have
a license plate mounted on the front. Nebraska and
Iowa are the in the midst of doing the same for their
residents.
The manufacturers of many new gas-powered vehicles do
not provide a location to put a plate on the front
bumpers. New, important safety technology such as
proximity and traffic sensors are present on the front
grills of modern cars which can be obstructed and
damaged by attempts to install a front plate. Removing
the front plate maintains a car's health by allowing
the designed airflow to occur, thereby meeting the
component cooling requirements. Eliminating front
plates protects the aesthetic contours of the vehicle.
With new electric vehicles, the most noticeable
difference is the elimination of the grill. Their
front ends are not only packed with sensor technology,
they require far less ventilation which allows the
manufacturer to increase the overall size of the
interior of the vehicle in leg room for passengers or
larger storage and trunk areas. Custom and classic
cars simply did not come with a provision for a front
plate.
1:36:50 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE continued to paraphrase the sponsor
statement.
The single plate and registration tab will still be
required on the rear of the vehicle thereby continuing
to assist law enforcement officers in their public
safety work. The rear plate and registration tab will
remain visible to the human eye, bodycams, dashboard
cams, security cameras and other personal video
surveillance systems. Alaska is known for its strong
police-community relationship and this bill will
further protect residents, law enforcement and their
mutual trust from any incident that might escalate
from a no front plate violation.
1:37:22 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE stated that he counted the number of
vehicles without a front plate when driving from Big Lake to
Anchorage and found that about one in ten vehicles did not have
a front license plate or mud obscured it. Typically, people
can't read the license plate in their rearview mirror because
the plate is below the horizon of the tailgate or the rear of
the vehicle.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE related that it would be a "fix it" ticket
and it does not generate any revenue for the Department of
Public Safety (DPS). He reported that DPS reported the citations
issued, including one in 2018, one in 2019, five in 2020, nine
in 2021, and one in 2022. He suggested that the state could save
production and distribution costs for mailing license plates.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE stated that this bill would not affect
jobs because the Division of Motor Vehicles contracts with the
license plate maker. He noted that Fairbanks and Wasilla police
departments and the Alaska State Troopers have no position on
the bill. He reported that Ohio implemented this and reported
that there was no impact to Ohio's troopers.
1:38:52 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE continued to paraphrase the sponsor
statement.
[Original punctuation provided.]
In Alaska's precarious budget situation, it is more
important than ever to trim the budget where we can
and ensure our state's fiscal health in years to come.
Let's make common sense changes such as outlined in
HB166 that will provide for even the smaller budget
cost-saving measures.
1:39:57 PM
JULIE MORRIS, Staff, Representative Kevin McCabe, Juneau,
Alaska, presented the sectional analysis for HB 166 on behalf of
the sponsor, which read:
Section 1: Amends AS 28.10.108(g) to make all
references to "plates" and "registration"
singular.
Section 2: Amends AS 28.10.108(h) to make all
references to "plates" singular.
Section 3: Amends AS 28.10.155(a) to make all
references to "plates" singular.
Section 4: Grammatically amends AS 28.10.161(a) to
conform with the singular intent of the bill.
Section 5: Amends AS 28.10.161(b) adds conforming
language for a singular plate.
Section 6: Adds a subsection to AS 28.10.161 that
provides an individual or organization the option to
return a plate should they be issued two plates.
Section 7: Grammatically amends AS 28.10.181(b) to
conform with the singular intent of the bill.
Section 8: Amends AS 28.10.181(j) to make all
references to "plates" singular.
Section 9: Amends AS 28.10.121(d)(9) to make all
references to "plates" singular.
Section 10: Amends AS 28.10.441 to make all references
to "plates" singular.
Section 11: Outlines an immediate effective date.
MS. MORRIS explained that Sections 1-10 grammatically conform to
make all references to "plates" singular. Section 6 allows an
individual or organization to return a license plate if two
plates were issued. Section 11 provides for an immediate
effective date.
1:41:10 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE asked if a person could have two plates.
SENATOR MCCABE responded that HB 166 provides a provision for
the individual to order a second license plate, similar to
ordering a personalized plate for a small fee.
1:42:04 PM
CHAIR MYERS opened public testimony; he found none and closed
public testimony on HB 166.
1:42:55 PM
CHAIR MYERS moved to adopt Amendment 1, work order 32-
LS0403\B.4.
32-LS0403\B.4
Radford
5/2/22
AMENDMENT 1
OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY CHAIR MYERS
TO: CSHB 166(FIN)
Page 3, line 13:
Delete "rear plate"
Insert "(A) rear plate for noncommercial
vehicles; or
(B) front plate for commercial
vehicles."
Page 3, line 17:
Delete "rear"
Insert "(A) rear of the vehicle for which it
is issued for a noncommercial vehicle; or
(B) front of the vehicle for which it
is issued if the vehicle is a commercial
vehicle."
Page 3, following line 18:
Insert a new bill section to read:
"* Sec. 7. AS 28.10.171(a) is amended to read:
(a) When two registration plates are issued
for a vehicle, they shall be attached to the
vehicle for which issued, one in front and the
other in the rear. When one registration plate is
issued, it shall be attached to the
(1) rear of the vehicle for which
issued for a noncommercial vehicle; or
(2) front of the vehicle for which
issued if the vehicle is a commercial vehicle."
Renumber the following bill sections accordingly.
1:42:58 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE objected for discussion purposes.
1:43:02 PM
CHAIR MYERS explained that he reviewed how HB 166 would affect
commercial vehicles, noting that he had no issue with going to
one plate. He said mud often obscures the back license plate on
commercial vehicles. He stated that commercial enforcement
officers use the front license plate to log the vehicle into
their computer system. He indicated that DOT&PF prefers to have
the license plate located on the front of the commercial vehicle
and Amendment 1 would make that change.
1:44:01 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE removed his objection.
CHAIR MYERS asked if he would reinstate his objection.
1:44:12 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE objected for discussion purposes.
1:44:24 PM
CHAIR MYERS explained that the Department of Transportation and
Public Facilities (DOTPF) suggested a conforming change to
Amendment 1.
1:44:41 PM
CHAIR MYERS moved to adopt Conceptual Amendment 1 to Amendment
1.
1:44:44 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE objected for discussion purposes.
1:44:49 PM
CHAIR MYERS stated Conceptual Amendment 1 to Amendment 1:
On page 3, line 20, to the definition of commercial
vehicle, it will read, "commercial motor vehicle" per
AS 19.10.399.
CHAIR MYERS explained that the statutes contain two definitions
for commercial vehicles. The definition in paragraph (2) relates
to trucks and buses, and the other definition relates to using a
motor vehicle for a commercial purpose.
1:45:37 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE asked whether the definition of commercial
motor vehicle would exclude trailers.
CHAIR MYERS answered that it would depend on the trailer size
because trailers weighing over 10,000 pounds were considered
commercial motor vehicles.
1:45:56 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE asked how a front license plate would be
affixed to a commercial trailer.
1:46:11 PM
ANDY MILLS, Legislative Liaison, Office of the Commissioner,
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOTPF),
Juneau, Alaska, responded that the trailer plate would be
affixed on the back of the trailer, but the commercial motor
vehicle towing the trailer would have the license plate affixed
to the front of the vehicle. This would avoid having the plate
between the commercial motor vehicle and the trailer. These
commercial motor vehicles use the scales and are not the smaller
types of trucks that deliver flowers or other business goods.
CHAIR MYERS stated that trailers were covered elsewhere in
statute. He noted that trailers currently are only required to
have one plate.
1:47:27 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE removed his objection.
CHAIR MYERS found no further objection, and Conceptual Amendment
1 to Amendment 1 was adopted.
1:47:38 PM
CHAIR MYERS stated that Amendment 1, as amended, was before the
committee.
1:47:43 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE removed his objection.
1:48:04 PM
CHAIR MYERS found no further objection, and Amendment 1, as
amended, was adopted.
1:48:00 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE moved to report the committee substitute (CS)
for HB 166(FIN), work order 32-LS0403\B, as amended, from
committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal
note(s).
CHAIR MYERS found no objection, and SCS CSHB 166(TRA) was
reported from the Senate Transportation Standing Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB166.OpposingLetters.4.29.22.pdf |
STRA 5/3/2022 1:30:00 PM |
HB 166 |
| HB166.VerB.SupportingLetters.4.29.22.pdf |
STRA 5/3/2022 1:30:00 PM |
HB 166 |
| HB166.FiscalNote.DOA.4.29.22.pdf |
STRA 5/3/2022 1:30:00 PM |
HB 166 |
| HB166.SectionalAnalysis.VerB.4.29.22.pdf |
STRA 5/3/2022 1:30:00 PM |
HB 166 |
| HB166.SponsorStmt.VerB.4.29.22.pdf |
STRA 5/3/2022 1:30:00 PM |
HB 166 |