Vehicle registration fees rarely refunded

Registering your car and paying the associated fees are never fun, but it's far worse when you know you won't be living in the state for a year. Take Stephen, who will kick off today's column:

My company is transferring me to Colorado in May and my Nevada vehicle registration expires next month. Is there any way I can avoid paying a full-year registration fee in Nevada when I know I will only be in Nevada for two more months before having to register my vehicle in Colorado?

Ugh, that is unfortunate timing to say the least. I called Tom Jacobs at the Department of Motor Vehicles to see if there is anything Stephen can do to avoid paying registration fees twice within months. And, unfortunately but not completely surprisingly, there isn't. One would think states would cooperate with each other when circumstances like this arise, but apparently each state wants its money to itself.

Nevada changed its refund law in 2003 so that refunds are only granted under very special circumstances and only when the amount is more than $100. The reason is that the state was spending too much money sending checks. I mean in one year, it sent out 9,100 checks that were for less than a dollar. Each mailing cost about 20 bucks.

Anyway, as Jacobs points out, registration fees are important to the state. The flat registration fee is $33 but the taxes are ridiculous (Jacobs didn't say that) and raise fees to well over $200 in some cases. Those taxes go to highway funds and schools.

Several readers have floated this question about the DMV's kiosks: If they are placed in government buildings, couldn't a third-party user fee be avoided?

This question arose after a column I wrote that pointed out that DMV Director Bruce Breslow hopes to install additional self-service kiosks across Nevada so that motorists don't have to visit the DMV office. Breslow said in order to do that, the user fee would have to be passed on to the motorists.

The third party charge is not for the building owners who house the kiosks, it is made to International Technology Inc., the company that owns the machines. The DMV pays the fee, which is $4.99 each time motorists use the kiosk to register their vehicles. As you might imagine, that can add up quickly.

"This business model of the state paying the fees of motorists would never fly today," Jacobs said, noting the legislation passed when the state was healthier economically. By passing the fee onto the user, the state could save about $1.6 million that would be channeled into Nevada's highway fund.

Kristine asks: Driving home last night, I saw a flashing sign on the eastbound 215 just before the North 5th Street off-ramp saying that beginning Feb. 9, use the North 5th off-ramp for eastbound 215. Where are they diverting traffic to continue on eastbound on the 215? I'm just concerned at the increased traffic on Deer Springs if traffic is diverted through there. It will be good for the businesses there, I hope, but I'm worried about congestion in the morning coming out of my neighborhood.

Kristine, it's true, starting today the eastbound traffic on the 215 (the Bruce Woodbury Beltway) will be taken off the freeway and onto North Fifth Street, where it will then be routed back onto the beltway. Deer Springs should not be affected by the detour because vehicles will exit on the North Fifth Street offramp, cross the intersection and re-enter the freeway via the North Fifth Street onramp. The freeway closure is only at Fifth street. Just FYI, westbound traffic will not be affected and access to southbound Fifth Street will not be interrupted. The detour will be in place for the next six months.

Jay has a couple of inquiries about the goings on at Interstate 15. First: Whose brilliant idea was it to complete the two express lanes then close the two right lanes on 15 southbound from Tropicana Avenue to Russell Road? Why not allow everyone to use the express lanes during this construction?

Well, Jay, I see your point and I ran the idea past the Nevada Department of Transportation's Scott Magruder. While he said he would "run it up the flag pole" to see what the higher-ups think, it is doubtful the express lanes will open up to everyone. Magruder said motorists have finally adjusted to the express lanes and the rules applied to them. At that point I had to chuckle because last time I drove on I-15 I counted six vehicles cross the solid double lines, so I'm not sure who has learned that they are not supposed to do that. Or maybe they did and they don't care.

In any case, engineers are still evaluating the effectiveness of the express lanes and thus far believe they are an effective method to move traffic smoothly from Sahara Avenue to Russell Road. Merging and changing lanes cause delays, Magruder said. In the meantime, expect to see new paddle delineators to go up next week as the existing ones have lost their reflective properties.

Part two of Jay: ... And what is the bridge being built at the Interstate 15/Interstate 215 interchange on the west side going to be used for?

As we've mentioned a number of times, crews are building two frontage type roads on both sides of Interstate 15 that will stretch between Tropicana and Blue Diamond. The bridge you see being constructed is for the west-side frontage road across the 215. Again, this entire project is expected to be completed early next year.

If you have a question, tip or tirade, call Adrienne Packer at (702) 387-2904, or send an e-mail to roadwarrior@reviewjournal.com. Include your phone number.