HB 166-ONE LICENSE PLATE PER VEHICLE  1:11:05 PM CHAIR HOPKINS announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 166, "An Act relating to the issuance of vehicle registration plates." 1:11:08 PM REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE, as prime sponsor, presented HB 166. He said at its last hearing of the bill, the committee had asked to hear from local members of law enforcement. He said he left numerous messages for the Anchorage Police Department (APD) but surmised he had not heard back because of a command structure change. He said he spoke with Joel Smith, Chief of Police, City of Wasilla, and he offered his understanding that Chief Smith, like the Department of Public Safety (DPS), takes no position on HB 166 but does not have an issue with it since it would not put his officers at risk and is not a safety issue, thus is something that he could "work around." He then indicated he had contacted the Fairbanks post of the Alaska State Troopers and understood that entity to say it took no official position on HB 87. The person he spoke with told him the front license plate is not visible at night; only the back plate is required to be lighted to show the registration tag. He was told the front plate provides no assistance to the troopers in Fairbanks. REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE shared that he had spoken with Trooper Jessica McIntyre of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, who said Ohio's recent roll-out of the single rear license plate has been seamless, with no decrease in the troopers' abilities to do their jobs. From Alaska's DPS Commissioner James Cockrell, he indicated confirmation of DPS having no official stance on HB 166. He remarked that on a recent trip to Anchorage, he took note of vehicles and estimated 2 out of 10 had no front plates, and of those that did, many were muddy. Even at slow speeds, he said he could not read the front plates. He said he contacted the Department of Corrections (DOC) because at the previous meeting someone had expressed concern that parolees could be found to be violating parole if their front plates were missing, and Director Jennifer Winkleman [of the Division of Pretrial, Probation and Parole] indicated that she knows of no instance when that has occurred. Lieutenant Eric Olsen, who had testified during the last hearing, offered follow-up information that DPS cannot confirm the number of incidents or cases that originated from a front license plate or lack thereof. He reported that Kelly Howell (ph) said the examples provided were an informal survey of troopers in the field and the feedback offered on their experience. REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE said he thinks "these commonsense changes" should be made. He recounted a conversation with Representative Spohnholz during which she had recommended a more surgical approach to budget trimming. He noted that Governor Mike Dunleavy had proposed removing several DMV locations, which he indicated the legislature did not support. That measure would have saved the state approximately half a million dollars. Representative McCabe pointed out that "just by moving a piece of tin from the front of your car," the state could save over half that amount. He expressed his desire to see HB 166 reported out of committee today. 1:16:34 PM CHAIR HOPKINS relayed that the committee had received two letters since its last hearing on HB 166: one letter of support from the owner of Fairbanks Nissan, and one letter of opposition from the APD Employees Association. 1:17:00 PM CHAIR HOPKINS opened public testimony on HB 166. After ascertaining no one wished to testify, he closed public testimony. 1:17:44 PM REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN, for the purpose of clarification, explained that although she would be offering the upcoming motion, she would be a "no" vote on HB 166. She explained that the Juneau Police Department (JPD) and APD have concerns related to removing the second license plate. She opined this was not a budget solution but rather "a solution looking for a problem." 1:18:44 PM CHAIR HOPKINS said he shared concerns for law enforcement but would be a "yes" vote, because he thinks it would reduce unwarranted traffic stops. 1:19:35 PM REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN moved to report HB 166 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. 1:19:48 PM REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN objected. 1:19:52 PM A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Drummond, McKay, McCabe, Cronk, and Hopkins voted in favor of the motion to report HB 166 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes.. Representative Hannan voted against it. Therefore, HB 166 was reported out of the House Transportation Standing Committee by a vote of 5-1.