HB 166-ONE LICENSE PLATE PER VEHICLE  1:30:26 PM CHAIR HOPKINS announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 166, "An Act relating to the issuance of vehicle registration plates." 1:30:45 PM The committee took an at-ease from 1:30 p.m. to 1:31 p.m. 1:31:35 PM REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor, presented HB 166. He indicated the bill would change a requirement of "two [license] plates per vehicle" to "one plate." Removing the requirement for license plates displayed on the front of vehicles would result in fiscal savings of $332,000, with virtually no other effect. He said there are 20 other states that do not require a front license plate, with others following suit. He said some negative factors of having to add a front license plate where there is no factory made holder for one is having to drill into a bumper, which can lead to rust and, in some newer vehicles, can interfere with sensor technology. Further, electric cars do not require as much room up front in design, thus there is less room for front license plates on them. 1:35:45 PM REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE allowed there are some public safety concerns. Alaska State Troopers gave an example of someone pulling up to a convenience store with plans to rob the store, and the camera on the storefront captures the license plate on the front of the vehicle. He suggested that concern may be minimized when considering that a criminal may use a stolen vehicle or take the plates off before using the vehicle. He offered his understanding that the front plate is the plate most typically stolen by thieves, because it is the least likely of the two plates to be noticed missing by the vehicle owner. 1:38:07 PM WILLIAM GAMBLE, Staff, Representative Kevin McCabe, Alaska State Legislature, on behalf of Representative McCabe, prime sponsor of HB 166, presented the sectional analysis [hard copy included in the committee packet] which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: 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. 1:39:34 PM REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE, in response to Representative McKay, reiterated that the projected savings under HB 166, as reflected on the fiscal note from the DMV, would be $332,000. 1:40:10 PM REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE, in response to Representative Spohnholz, said since HB 166 is "a state bill," he did not speak with any local law enforcement personnel in his district; he spoke with Alaska State Troopers. He said he spoke with Lieutenant Eric Olsen. He said law enforcement would want as many identifying features on a vehicle as possible. He said he did not discount that factor, but indicated his focus was on cost savings. He noted that statewide the number of citations issued amount only to one each in 2018 and 2019, and five in 2020, for a missing front license plate. He suggested that if the law is not being forced, then why not save the money for the state? REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ emphasized keen interest in the view of law enforcement on this issue. She added that just because citations aren't being issued over a missing front license plate doesn't mean front plates are not a useful investigative tool. 1:44:16 PM ERIC OLSEN, Lieutenant, Alaska State Troopers, Department of Public Safety, emphasized that the front license plate is an important means by which to identify a vehicle. During surveillance, sometimes the front of the vehicle is all that is visible. When there are numerous vehicles of the same make, model, and color, the license plate becomes an important distinguisher. In terms of plates being stolen, he said either get swiped - front or back. He talked about the front license plate playing a role in getting search warrants. He said there are many places in the state where citizens have to file their own police reports, and photos help the troopers corroborate. Photos are taken for that purpose and to submit to insurance companies. He emphasized an important use of the license plate in someone calling in a dangerous driver, and he pointed out that sometimes the caller has a view only of the front of the vehicle. Likewise, in cases of heinous crimes, witnesses have sometimes identified suspects for law enforcement via identifying the front license plate. Further, officers at times will locate a stolen vehicle traveling the opposite direction by spotting the front license plate. Sometimes that leads to a traffic stop where stolen goods or narcotics are found in the vehicle. He indicated cameras have recorded front license plates, which saves time, money, and manpower for law enforcement. 1:50:28 PM LIEUTENANT OLSEN, in response to Chair Hopkins, said the Department of Public Safety holds no position regarding HB 166. He added, "However, we do support any laws and regulations pertaining to public safety." In response to a question from Representative Hannan, he confirmed that the department's Alaska State Troopers do not utilize cameras to read license plates at intersections, and he deferred to municipalities as to their use of such cameras. 1:52:30 PM REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE, in response to a question from Representative Drummond regarding the revenue-making aspect of the DMV, explained that unlike in some other states, the Alaska DMV charges a fee for registration but does not charge for the license plates; therefore, there would be no loss in revenue and there would be the aforementioned savings [of $332,000]. REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND questioned how it would be an annual savings thereafter, "because once they stop spending it they don't need to stop spending it in subsequent years." 1:55:07 PM JEFFREY SCHMITZ, Director, Division of Motor Vehicles, Department of Administration, said the fiscal note from the DMV reflects a savings of 50 percent off what the division would spend in a normal year, which is $664,000 for the production of license plates into its inventory. The fiscal note shows that when the number of plates is cut in half, so, too, is the expenditure of the division. He allowed that it depends on "how you look at it." One way is that if HB 166 is not passed, then the annual cost for the inventory to cover two plates per vehicle would be $664,000 in perpetuity; if the bill passes, then the amount would be $332,000 annually. MR. SCHMITZ, in response to Chair Hopkins, noted that the division's "plate contract" is up for renewal in summer 2021, so this would be a good time to adjust the inventory requirements from the producer of the license plates. 1:57:01 PM REPRESENTATIVE CRONK expressed willingness to offer a conceptual amendment to include an effective date, since currently there was not one. CHAIR HOPKINS told Representative Cronk there would be a date set for amendments; therefore, he asked him to wait to offer an amendment rather than offering a conceptual one now. 1:57:46 PM CHAIR HOPKINS asked whether not having a front plate currently could be a violation of probation. LIEUTENANT OLSEN answered yes, it could be reported to a probation officer. 1:58:49 PM CHAIR HOPKINS opened public testimony on HB 166. After ascertaining there was no one who wished to testify, he closed public testimony. 1:59:01 PM CHAIR HOPKINS announced that HB 166 was held over.