New law allows $20 vehicle fee without a vote

OLYMPIA — Gov. Christine Gregoire on Friday approved legislation to allow Washington cities and counties to impose a vehicle fee of as much as $20, without voter approval, to help finance transportation projects and transit.

Tim Eyman, the sponsor of the initiative that brought $30 car tabs, said the measure disregards voters' clear demand for a public vote whenever an increase is proposed. He crashed the bill-signing ceremony at the Capitol, standing near the governor. He grimaced and gave a thumbs-down gesture to the TV and still cameras as Gregoire signed the measure.

Afterward, the governor asked Eyman if he wanted a souvenir pen like the bill backers were getting. He said yes, and she gave him one, along with a big smile. He departed, still frowning. Later he said he'd use the pen to gather signatures on his latest initiative, to make it harder for state lawmakers to raise taxes.

The new law is an expansion of a 2005 law that allows local transportation benefit districts to ask their voters to approve increases in the sales, property and gas tax, tolls, bonds, transportation impact fees and vehicle fees of as much as $100 per car per year — either singly or as part of a package.

A district in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties is planning a vote, probably this fall, on a package currently estimated at $16 billion.

The new law will allow city councils and county councils and commissioners to impose impact fees or the first $20 of the vehicle fee without voter approval.

"Cities and counties often struggle to maintain their transportation systems in the face of escalating costs and limited revenues," the governor said. "This bill encourages local governments to partner with each other to invest in local transportation infrastructure, providing cities and counties with an additional tool to improve transportation."