22 February 2009

Time for a Wheel Deal?

The Motor Vehicle Commission is looking to raise fees for some of its services, including motorcycle registrations and document copying. Some fees haven't gone up in years, and could rise substantially - 500% or more. The increases are expected to raise $40 to $60 million per year.

Maybe this would be a good time to revamp the driver's license fees also. As I wrote a couple of years ago, the $24/4 year driver's license is a bargain - maybe too much of a bargain. Why not a $100/10 year license? The state would get an instant increase of $4 dollars per driver per year, and a tremendous savings on processing costs - as driver's license renewal is one of the functions that can't be performed through the internet or by mail. And drivers would only need to renew their licenses half a dozen times or so in their lifetime.

How about a youth driver's license for ages 17 to 21, and a full driver's license starting on one's twenty-first birthday. Renewals at age 31, 41, 51, 61 - and a renewal with road test at 71, and - hopefully 81!

What do you think?

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