The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors raised local residents’ DMV renewal fees.

Prior to the board’s action last month, DMV was billing county residents $9 per vehicle, per year on behalf of the Board of Supervisors.  The supervisors raised the fee to $10. The additional $1 will be used to pay for automated fingerprint identification services throughout the county.

The remaining $9 per vehicle fee goes to:

·      $1 for highway call boxes (charged since 2000)

·      $6 for the Air Quality Management District (charged since 2006)

·      $1 for Abandoned Vehicle Abatement (charged since 1992)

·      $1 for DUI/Auto Theft Prosecution Program (charged since 1993).

The sheriff, district attorney, and auditor-controller all supported raising the fee.

However, the county-auditor asked the electeds to review the other $9 that is levied.

“When your board charges a fee to an individual, the intent of the California Constitution requires that there is a reasonable relationship between the amount of the fee charged, the individual charged, and the benefit or service provided to the individual by the county. I believe that in the case of the automated fingerprint identification fee a reasonable relationship exists,” Auditor Joe Harn wrote to the supervisors. “I believe that the relationship of the fees charged for the Air Quality Management District and the highway call boxes is not nearly as clear ….”

— Lake Tahoe News staff report