Press Room

Whitehead to McInnis “You’re Welcome”

Tuesday, June 29 2010

Sen. Whitehead’s bill to reduce vehicle registration late fees goes into effect July 1

DENVER-- Last year, Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis was hit with a late fee when he went in to register his trailer.  But had Senator Bruce Whitehead’s Senate Bill 10-198 gone into effect July 1, 2009, instead of July 1, 2010, McInnis may have had a few more dollars in his pocket.

In July 2009, The Denver Post reported that Scott McInnis was going to have to pay some late fees on one of his trailers. 

“In McInnis' case, the custom-built wagon was delivered in January. It has been up on jacks while a drain and other equipment were installed… A few weeks ago, McInnis went to a Mesa County Motor Vehicle office to inquire about registration. That's when he learned that because he got the title in January, he's going to have late fees. Under the previous law, the late fee was $10. Effective June 1, it increased to $25 a month, capped at $100, with no discretion to waive it.”

-      The Denver Post, “McInnis: Auto fees "speed trap" The Republican says people are angry. Even he owes a $100 penalty.” July 19, 2009

Scott McInnis was not alone.  When Senator Bruce Whitehead (D-Hesperus) first took office, he heard from many of his constituents about how the late vehicle registration fees were impacting them and Sen. Whitehead fought diligently to reduce the late fees imposed on trailers.  Sen. Whitehead was not in the Senate when the legislature passed FASTER.  FASTER was signed into law last year to create jobs in Colorado and to address the state’s rapidly deteriorating transportation system.

“I’ve lived in rural Colorado most of my adult life, and I know how much unexpected expenses can hit the families, farmers and small businesses down here,” said Sen. Whitehead.  “I’m glad I am able to offer Colorado families a little relief in this economy.”

Senate Bill 198 responds to the concerns of many Whitehead’s constituents and reduces the late penalty for all non-motorized vehicles, namely trailers weighing less than 16,000 lbs, to a maximum of $10 regardless of weight or length. The bill applies to non-motorized vehicles such as: horse or stock trailers, camper trailers, multi-purpose trailers, trailer coaches, utility trailers, and rental trailers.

SB 198 goes into effect today, Thursday, July 1, 2010.

Another one of Senator Whitehead’s bills, Senate Bill 34, also goes into effect today.  SB 34 addresses recent changes in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act and will give the state the authority to inspect pesticide establishments that refill pesticide containers and ensure they are in compliance with federal residue-removal requirements. This bill aligns state law with the new federal regulations. 

Rep. Wes McKinley (D-Walsh) sponsored SB 198 in the House.