Raspy

Well, maybe, but remember that one of the reasons Arnold got in was because of his promise to roll back the vehicle registration fees. That went over very well and helped him get elected. I know one guy that voted for him only for that reason.

It's not that so many people are on welfare that is killing CA, as so many from other states seem to believe. It's a combination of a huge constitutional commitment to education that must be met, something like 40% of the entire budget, a huge prison population with non violent drug users and three strikes criminals, and the federal mandate to hold many illegals that the Feds will not cover the costs of. The Fed requires it of border states but doesn't re-imburse. Property taxes go up and up with the sale price of homes each time they sell in an increasing market. We have our own formula for gasoline that makes us already pay more for fuel right here where it's refined, than in neighboring states and a sales tax on top of the fuel tax. So we are paying a tax on tax thanks to Reagan as governor. Diesel is charged even more tax and diesels were, until recently, very hard to get here because of polution regulations. Now factor in medical insurance constantly going up as insurance companies skim off 30% and try to prevent procedures and companies hiring people as "temporary" or "part time" just to beat the insurance and workmen's compensation rules. Even the State does it with their employees. Now you end up with low wage workers with no medical insurance that wind up going to the emergency room when they are near death instead of to a doctor for preventive care. Etc, etc.

All you folks (and I'm not picking on anyone in particular) that like to grandstand about how crazy CA is seem to be unable to see the common working man just trying to make a living here and raise his family. Or a culturally diverse populace here that is racially sensitive and, in many ways forward looking and educated, or trying very hard to make a better life for themselves.

In many ways I am grateful for the diversity. It helps keep us from being afraid of other points of view, look at problems in new ways, understand the world better and not be so closed minded about things we don't understand.

But yes, we do have our weird problems, weird leaders, and our crime. What state doesn't?

Checkmate

I think I pay about $160 a year for an 18,000 lb commercial plate. No inspection, No taxes, No B.S. It would be about $50 a year if I was non commercial.

LeonT

And now they're going to "tax" your "mileage"?

I lived on the Central Coast from '79 to '80, and I couldn't wait to move back to Arizona then because it was so bad. Man am I glad I left.

Taxing "mileage"?

You gotta be kidding me.

LeonT

That's funny stuff ese. I'm part Mexican, part German, and part white, so I want $3 from everyone to make up for all the times I was called a "half-breed". I think I have some emotional hangover from that and I should be compensated by the taxpayers. Make all the checks payable to me, Leon Trevino.

mpracehemi

Hey, I'm partial AMERICAN INDIAN, where can I get my gov. handout??

That's the trouble with this gov., they only really think short term and hand out way too much money to those who haven't put into the system. Just yesterday at work we where saying that all the people gettting gov. help should have to put so many hours in (to get credits) in public parks and whatnot in cleaning up/maintenance facility cleaners. Then the gov. workers could be alocated to working on our roads..........just a thought.

rmillett

To pour more salt on the wound I heard their now going to make us smog our 1998 and later diesels on top of taxing the heck out of us.

LeonT

I honestly think they have lost their minds. I really do. The freedoms this country was founded on have disappeared faster in CA than any other state I can think of. Maybe NY and MA are just as bad, but I don't live on the east coast.

I think Ronald Reagan must be turning over in his grave right now.

Don't forget to send me those checks for the insults I got when I lived in CA. We'll just call it a retroactive discrimination fee. I am owed this money, we'll think of a legitimate reason later.

Nor_Cal_Angler

Can you site a source on this or are you going off of hear say???? I have been hearing smog this and smog that for years now...most of the shops and mechanics I have spoken with agree, they have heard the rumor mill for years now...first it was 2008 then 2006 and later and now your suggesting 1998 and later...

not saying your wrong, I just need to read it for my own eyes.

to my knowledge the best they can get away with is to require everyone to return their vehicles to a stock from the factory opertation in regards to smog equipement...so at the worst whats that mean for us..a muffler and a cat through 2005...simple Band clamp the cat back in place for your smog and take it off and put back the straight pipe once you smog it...

NCA

FMB

I sure hope his source is simular to mine. All (a big guess) diesel truck owners in CA received this notice about the new requirements from CARB. Very few took the time to look into it and see it applys to the big rigs and not our trucks.

ImpulseHydro

I think I might be exempt from this due to my CTD is reg as non-comercial..
I dont pay the $209 weight fee any more. and it cost $189 last year to register the truck... $147 for the TDI Jetta this year so far..
Doug.

Nor_Cal_Angler

Right...I knew some one would know exactly what or where I was going with that....I revieved that, and it specificly states "Excludes most non-commerical private use vehicles" My mechanic told me that it a few years ago that On-Road Commerical would be required to smog, Fix, or get a new Rig...

as well there was rumors of the drivers of private commerical trucks..(ie owner operated) would get a rebate/check to the tune of 20,000 to retro fix their rigs with the latest greatest smog equipment

All of our trucks are registered as NON-Commerical unless you requested it that way..the way you avoid a weight fee, is to put a camper on it...Any "Truck" 1500 included hell I think even dakotas,s-10 and rangers count. that doesnt have a camper on it incurs the weight fee...DVM's reasoning is an open bed truck can be used as a commerical "business" truck and thus they have the right to tax you to death.

I know because I just went ROUND AND ROUND with DMV about my registration notice I got on my 1999 GMC...**** thing is a show truck "LOWERED" BLOWN to the tune of 475 to the rear wheels and they want 390 to register it...its all WEIGHT FEE...227 in weight fees...SO I CALLED AND BITCHED!!!!!!!!!!!

end result....I LOOSE!!!!!!!!!!!!! go POUND SAND is what they told me.

NCA

soulezoo

All true points but one... California's constitutional funding requirement is not 40%. It is 60% of all general fund revenues. Think about that for a moment. The world's seventh or eighth largest economy (depending on whose measure you use) MUST spend 60% of its GDP on education, and yet the teacher's union, CTA, constantly bombards the airways with ads on how California doesn't do enough to fund its schools...tsk tsk.

Mr Bee

I moved from the socialist republic of California in 2001. Born and raised there and love the country, it is in a class of it's own. But the best thing I got out of California was me. Those wack nuts running the state have not seen reality in a long time. Good luck to all of those who remain...

johndeer

I live in Acton CA for a short time yet, moving to MT in April. The price of diesel here is 1.99. The license fee is the only part that is doubling, that is only a portion of the entire registration fee. Mine would go from 440 to 560. Sales tax in LA County will be 9.75. Our income tax will be taxed at 2.5%. These are facts, I'm not defending this junk. I'm outa here.

FMB

Alright, what does that mean, really? How about;KBB says an '08 2500 CTD 4WD QC has a GVWR of 8800 pounds; quite abit short of the 14k minimum for the new smog rules. (Celebrate quietly or you might make CA ARB realizes it left the "1" in the GVWR minimum... yeah, they are that messed up.)
I might just wait for a '10 2500, depends on how my AK trip goes next year.