Nevada gov opposes plan to hike DMV fees

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) -- Gov. Kenny Guinn opposes a plan to raise fees charged for first-time vehicle registrations and drivers' licenses -- a plan targeting new Nevada residents.

Ginny Lewis, director of the state Department of Motor Vehicles told a legislative budget subcommittee Thursday that she talked with the governor about raising the fees, and Guinn wouldn't accept the suggestions.

Under present law, the department is entitled to 22 percent of the highway fund taxes it collects with the rest going to build roads. But the agency wants to increase it to 29 percent, which would mean an additional $24 million out of the highway construction fund.

Sen. Bob Coffin, D-Las Vegas, has been a leading proponent of increasing DMV fees, instead of dipping into the highway money. He originally suggested doubling the first-time motor vehicle registration fee from $33 to $66 and increasing the driver's license cost to first-timers.

Coffin said the DMV needs more money but it "should not be robbing the highway fund. We're taking away from road building."

Lewis told the subcommittee that an added fee on first-time vehicle registration would fall on Nevadans who buy new cars also.

The subcommittee agreed to raise the record search fees in the motor vehicle department from $5 to $7 to bring in an extra $2.7 million a year. And the subcommittee also agreed that an expected $11.7 million reserve in the record search division be used by the agency to offset the funds sought from the highway revenue.

The subcommittee also agreed that the department should not be able to exceed the present 22 percent of highway funds. Panel members said they will search for other fee increases to supplement the revenue of the department.