Electric Vehicle Owners Could See Huge Registration Fee
Electric vehicle owners could see huge registration fee. A new bill was just filed that would put an additional $200 onto the registration of electric vehicles in the Tampa Bay area. To me, this seems a little steep.
Being an electric vehicle owner myself, I’m not a fan of this bill at all. A lot of EV owners drive electric cars to help the environment. The car payment alone is already super steep because the cost of the car is sometimes more then an average car. We also have to “pay” for the electricity. My electric bill went up about $75 – $80 a month with my Tesla.
This bill was filed by Republican Senator Ed Hooper who proposes that drivers of EV need to pay more. A similar bill was introduced last year, saying that there are more EVs on the road than ever anticipated. He believes this is a fairness issue and that “The free ride needs to come to a stop”. There is no free ride when you buy an EV.
The $200 fee would be on top of the registration fees that are already required. If you drive a hybrid vehicle, you would have to pay $50. Wow, that is quite a difference.
This is just for the state of Florida. About 30 states have a registration fee ranging from $50, which is the lowest, to $211, which is the highest, which is in Georgia.
Where Does The Extra Money Go
Where does this extra money go? 64% of the funds would be deposited into the State Transportation Trust Fund and 36% would be allocated to the county where the vehicle is registered. It’s state funding for road repairs and other infrastructure improvements.
The 2024 legislative session begins in January. If passed, the bill would go into effect on July 1, 2024. in the story from WESH, Bruce Edelston, chair of the policy committee of Drive Electric Florida says that a more comparable fee to what gas-powered car drivers pay would be between $125 and $150.
Either way, it stinks for EV drivers. Both Kevin and Launa from the show have a Tesla.
Most Targeted Vehicles For Car Theft In Florida
So, what are the most targeted vehicles for car theft in Florida? Well, there is one item on these cars that is being stolen and thieves want their hands on it. The catalytic converter is being targeted now more than ever. It contains precious metals and those metals are getting more expensive. The report come from CARFAX, who put together a list of the top vehicles for car theft in Florida.
So, what is a catalytic converter? CARFAX says, “Catalytic converters are a key component of a car’s emissions control system, reducing the amount of pollution coming out of the tailpipe. They transform hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides – the bad stuff – into oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide.” Inside the catalytic converter there are precious metals like: palladium, rhodium, and platinum.
Catalytic converters have been on cars since 1975. Electric cars don’t have them because they don’t have an exhaust system. It also doesn’t take long to remove it. A small saw can remove it in less than 60 seconds.
How to prevent thieves from stealing it? Experts say to buy a catalytic converter anti-theft device. It is a metal plate that shops can add on to your car. You can also get your VIN number engraved on the converter. That makes it much tougher for the thief to sell it.
Last year, the Florida Legislature passed a bill making it a third-degree felony for a person to knowingly possess, purchase, sell or install a stolen catalytic converter.
Hillsborough County’s Effort To Combat Auto And Retail Theft
From new info from the HSCO in a Feb 2024 email…The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office announced in 2023 that they will make permanent their auto theft and retail theft task forces. They were initially established to address the rising concerns about auto theft and retail theft in Hillsborough County. Both of those squads met or exceeded their expectations so they decided to become permanent.
“With their newly permanent status, the Auto Theft Squad and Retail Theft Squad will continue to build on their incredible accomplishments, further strengthening their impact on crime prevention and law enforcement efforts in our county,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “As Sheriff, I look forward to the continued success of these squads as they play a pivotal role in maintaining the safety and well-being of our Hillsborough County residents.”
[SOURCE: ABC Action News]
Launa is part of Tampa Bay's Hometown Morning Krewe on 99.5 WQYK. She has been with the station for 7 years and joined J.R. and Kevin on the morning show 4 years ago. Since then, they have been nominated for not only a CMA but also an ACM. Launa has been in radio for the past 28 years and in the Tampa Bay market for 22 of those years. While working in radio, Launa has also served as an entertainment reporter on a local TV show and has hosted many charity events in the community. Using her popularity from QYK, Launa loves to help raise money for shelter animals and has been a volunteer at local shelters for years. Launa loves the community and writes articles on local news, entertainment, and events and highlights people who are shining in Tampa Bay that she knows others like her would also be interested in reading.
