New York Bill Would Raise Fees on Heavy SUVs

New York drivers could soon pay higher registration fees on heavier vehicles as part of an effort to reduce the pedestrian deaths and the strain on infrastructure caused by larger and heavier SUVs. Alissa Walker describes the proposed bill in Curbed.

According to Walker, “New York State already charges weight-based registration fees, but they’re laughably low. Currently, the owner of a 2,877-pound Honda Civic pays $47 every two years, while the owner of a vehicle twice that weight pays $112.50. These fees don’t reflect, in any way, the potential damage that such an increase in weight presents.”

The new legislation would more accurately reflect the increase in risk, Walker writes, adding that “one study estimates that for every 1,000 pounds of vehicle weight, the chance of fatality increases by 46 percent.” The new fees would be implemented over the next six years. “The new fee would only apply to passenger vehicles — drivers who use large vehicles for work can apply for a commercial registration, and all the SUVs purchased by the NYPD, for example, would be unaffected.”

Walker notes that heavier vehicles can cause damage to roads and buildings, pointing to the collapse of an Ann Street garage earlier this year, a problem that will only be exacerbated by the weight of electric car batteries.Three quarters of revenue raised from the bill would, after fulfilling annual dedications, fund safety improvements for bikes and pedestrians.