Fee or tax? Bridge tolls increase heads to court

QHas anyone sued to stop the toll increases on our bridges coming up Jan. 1? Why did it not need a two-thirds vote? — Frank Thurmond, Oakland

ARegional Measure 3 was placed on the ballot as a fee, meaning it needed a simple majority to be approved. It got 54 percent.

But two lawsuits are challenging that vote, saying it is not a fee but a special tax requiring a two-thirds margin.

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association joined the suit and its president, Jon Coupal, once told me his group does not usually challenge such measures unless it believes its chances of winning are very good. So stay tuned.

If upheld, a $1 toll hike would go into effect Jan. 1.

If no decision is reached by then, higher tolls would be collected but would be put in an escrow account. Additional $1 increases will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2022, and on Jan. 1, 2025.

QThere was a lot of talk about making paper plates traceable, or ending them altogether. Nothing seems to have changed. In Berkeley, at least 1 out of 10 cars have paper plates and in some cases they are the same cars with the same paper plates that were parked in the same spaces last year. What, if anything, is happening? — Teddy Knight, Wayne Deutscher and others

AAnother change is looming Jan. 1. When a customer buys a car from a dealership, the dealer or lessor-retailor will be required to issue and attach a temporary paper license plate to any car that does not display a license plate. This, and the temporary operating permit, are required before a car is driven off the lot.

If you are buying a used car from a dealer, it must display a license plate or temporary paper license plate. The paper plates will display an expiration date.

Bottom line: All ve- hicles purchased beginning Jan. 1 will need to display either a temporary paper license plate or permanent license plate.

The state estimates it loses $19 million a year to drivers with paper plates who avoid paying tolls. This new requirement should lower that amount.

QMy neighbor has had paper plates on his truck for the past twoplus years. He works in the East Bay, knowing he is not paying bridge tolls. Is there a way to report him to the DMV? — Tom Lustig, Mountain View

AYou can file a complaint with your local DMV Investigations office by either completing a Record of Complaint form (INV 172a) or by calling an office directly. Either method of reporting this complaint allows you to remain anonymous.