A group of Democratic state lawmakers wants to increase a common vehicle fee to pay for research into alternative fuels. They're proposing to hike the smog abatement charge from $12 to $16 . That's the fee you pay to opt out of the smog check requirement if your car is six years old or newer.
Assemblyman Kevin De Leon is a co-author of the proposal. He says the increase would generate $45 million a year:
De Leon:
AB 255 will help us reduce the public health impacts caused by air pollution, decrease environmental threats caused by greenhouse gases, and lessen the economic and national security risk caused by dependence on foreign oil."
De Leon says the program will help to implement the landmark legislation passed last year to cap greenhouse gas emissions.
