Denver Post editorial sucks up to Ritter sop on unfair late fees, proposes perpetuating plunder
by The Peripatetic Pundit | 7:45 pm, July 11, 2009 | Comments Off
Today’s Denver Post editorial board response to Governor Ritter’s proposal Thursday (in Friday’s news story “Ritter willing to tweak auto-registration fee“) was ’swift and unreasonable’ – contradicting their previous position from only the day before (Thursday’s “Roll back state’s vehicle late fees“).
“I certainly understand people who own a $100 trailer and are looking at a $100 late fee saying, ‘That doesn’t make sense,’ ” Ritter told The Post on Thursday.
In an editorial published that same day, we also said penalties seem out of proportion and questioned why they now must be mandatory.
Did the Post’s editorial board really experience a radical change of heart in only two days, or are they attempting to suck up (er, curry favor) with the governor’s office?
From Thursday’s principled defense of the wallets of ALL Colorado citizens:
“The penalties seem out of proportion. And we question why they must be mandatory and are no longer subject to a reasonable waiver at the county level, such as for a prolonged illness.”
To Saturday’s muddled, inconsistent and unprincipled endorsement of a “good compromise” (which only helps out the “boat trailer” crowd – any guesses as to how many on the Post editorial board own boats?):
“Ritter said Thursday that the new law needs to be tweaked so the owners of boat trailers and other non-motorized vehicles don’t get stuck with $100 late fees. We agree.”
“Let them eat cake,” the Post editorial board might as well have said. “We got ours – tough for the peasants.” Terrible shame that those late fees “certainly will put a strain on a lot of budgets.” Tsk, tsk.
For the rest of us out there still subject to this unfair, regressive, and probably unconstitutional tax (er, fee – sorry, the Colorado Supremes say that “fees” don’t violate TABOR, so I guess it’s OK), consider the following relevant facts:
You are under NO legal obligation to register your vehicle if you’re not using it on Colorado public roads.
The Registration Fee portion of your bill is tied to road usage. An argument can be made that increasing registration fees to cover the increased cost of road maintenance is justifiable (meeting the required definition of a fee being tied to paying for a service). However, if you’re not using the service (or amenity), you are NOT required to pay for it (that’s the fundamental distinction between a fee and a tax).
Take a look at your latest vehicle “Colorado Registration/Ownership Tax Receipt.” Notice that there are several distinct sections and payment amounts:
Emissions Fee, Ownership Tax, License Fee, Title Fee, and “Other Fee.”
The “Other Fee” is of course mostly used for “Late Fees” – the issue in question.
Note also that, especially for older vehicles, trailers, etc. that the Ownership Tax is by far the lowest amount of what you’re being forced to pay. That’s the only amount you’re actually required to cough up annually, just for owning the vehicle. The state merely combines the payments in one receipt as a matter of convenience - the state’s convenience, that is. Also, if you’re behind on paying that tax, they simply add any amount in arrears – without penalty.
The now-mandatory “Late Fee” is being assessed for being “late” in doing something that you’re not obligated to do in the first place for merely owning a vehicle – only for actually using that vehicle on Colorado roads.
Ritter wants to buy you off – as he apparently has already done with the Denver Post editorial board – with a sop. His so-called “compromise” is typical of the “progressive” mindset: demand your entire arm, then settle for just taking your hand below the wrist.
DON’T BUY IT! REFUSE to pay this unfair tax (er, fee) – DEMAND an immediate and retroactive rollback whenever the legislature next convenes. Contact Governor Ritter, the FASTER bill’s primary sponsor Joe Rice, and your state representatives (House and Senate) and demand action!
Tags: bill ritter > car tax > Colorado Car Tax > Colorado Constitution > Colorado Legislature > Colorado Supreme Court > Denver Post > FASTER > Late Fees > LEMMing > Ritter Auto Tax > TABOR
