Comité Motor Vehicles de la Cámara de Representantes, 2 de marzo de 2026

Transcripción

415 turnos. Seleccione un tiempo para reproducir ese momento del video.

1. 0:06:23

   Do, do we have a sign-up sheet? Yeah.

2. 0:06:25

   Yes.

3. 0:06:28

   Good, good morning. We got a couple minutes before the, uh, meeting starts. Anybody that wants to speak to a bill, if they come... A sign-up sheet up front. Sign up, uh, which bill you're, uh, you wanna, wanna speak to, and y- your name and who you with.

4. 0:07:52

   Well, good morning, everybody. It is 9:00. We're gonna go ahead and call this meeting to order. I'm gonna ask Chairman Smith if he'll open in prayer. Y'all bow with us.

5. 0:08:00

   Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, Lord, we do thank you for another beautiful day you've given us out there. And, uh, re- remember to please be with our families back home, um, be with our children and our grandchildren. Keep them all safe. Help us to understand what your will is and what we can do to best please the citizens of our state of Georgia. And thank you for this time together. Lead, guide, and direct us in Jesus' name. Amen.

6. 0:08:25

   All right. We, uh, do have four bills on the agenda this morning. Uh, I see Representative Miles here. We're gonna start with HB1380. If he'll come to the table and, uh, I'll turn the, uh, floor over to him.

7. 0:08:53

   Good morning.

8. 0:08:54

   Morning.

9. 0:08:54

   Thank you, Chair and committee, for hearing my bill. Uh, I present bill, um, HB,

10. 0:09:02

    HB, uh, 1380. And we are going with a LC of 394930. This is basically a bill that, uh, requires legislators to acquire a handicap placard on their legislative tag. I provided a copy of that, uh, the tag itself. I, I talked, last year, I talked to the chair about, and I went to the Au- Bu- Bill Association and, uh, and, and the, uh, committee, and they, uh, re- really, they, they, they made a tag for me.

11. 0:09:36

    And, uh, and just if you had a copy of the tag, it's in your packet. The tag is basically, uh, allows, uh, a handicap sticker to be... If y'all have, everybody have a copy of it?

12. 0:09:49

    Yeah.

13. 0:09:50

    All right. Okay. So it allows, basically, you see, a handicap placard to be on a legislative tag. And the reason for that, when I first came to the house, I'm 100% disabled military veteran, and I, and I, I have... So when I, I came to the house, they told me I couldn't, had to choose between my, my handicap placard or a legislative placard. And I, uh, and I said, "Okay. I'm, I'm gonna put the legislative placard on." But I've had some aunts with that. I've had, several times, I've had my legislative placard and I've been parking in a disabled parking spot.

14. 0:10:23

    I've gotten two tickets that I had to go and get resolved. Even though I had my placard in, on the front, they got the tickets. And then a lot of time in my area, in my district, a lot of times I'm parked in a handicap space, and I get ready to walk off and I have ci- citizens that park to me and point to my tag, say, "That doesn't allow you to have, to be parked in the area," that I'm doing something illegal. So I mean, it just, uh, it just seemed to be, would be a easier process to have a, a tag with legislative, to put handicap, who meet all the criteria otherwise for a handicap plate to be able to apply for a legislative tag with a handicap sticker on it.

15. 0:10:59

    That's basically what this does. And we've already done the paper- the, uh, work to actually create the tag, so the, the expenses of creating it is already there. Uh, I've been told that they can, uh, print a certain amount of these. Uh, uh, normally, I think it's 1,000 you have to print if you get a special tag, but they said they can lower that amount and, uh, we can, uh, to accommodate. We've got a roughly, uh, 200, uh, between retired legislators. Legislators, there are about 520 of them there, and, uh, roughly about 7.9% of them might have disabilities that may be able to apply for this tag.

16. 0:11:34

    I mean, it isn't a large amount, but it does eliminate a problem of having a, a, a concept of... First of all, it give you instant resni- recognition. It's a instant ID. You know, you see that tag with a legislative tag on it with, with that placard on there, you automatically know that's a legislator with a disability. You don't, policeman don't have to run a tag or do anything like that. It's in- an instant identifier. Other name does, it does a lot more than help the people looking at it, don't look like we legislators are, are disobeying the law, above the law, and it gives us, it just erases that altogether.

17. 0:12:08

    And it, it's not a, a very expensive one, and I just hope that you cons- con- your consideration to pass this particular bill, and I'm open for any questions.

18. 0:12:17

    Representative Miles, the longer you talk, the more s- more questions we got. I don't, I don't know, I don't know what that means. But, and, and I'm probably gonna re- regret this one. I'm gonna recognize, uh, Chairman Ridley.

19. 0:12:28

    Yeah. Thank you.

20. 0:12:29

    Thank you, sir. Good morning.

21. 0:12:30

    I just got a couple questions. So you still have to, you still have to, to get a regular tag for a handicap, you gotta go in and show where your doctor... Then you still have to do that on this?

22. 0:12:40

    The same for you in the process you would for any handicap tag.

23. 0:12:43

    Okay.

24. 0:12:43

    You have to do that, you have to go through the same procedure.

25. 0:12:45

    Okay. Well, I, and the reason I ask that is 'cause, you know, I'm probably mentally handicapped, and I don't want somebody to stick this on my truck just because of opinions. Um, all right. Thank you, sir.

26. 0:12:57

    All right. Number 12, Representative Taylor.

27. 0:13:00

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you for this bill. I remember when you first came in and we had this discussion, you were asking me-

28. 0:13:05

    Yes, ma'am

29. 0:13:06

    ... about the plates. I thank you for bringing this bill. My question is, um, the $25 manufacturing fee, now, w- we pay extra for our tags currently. Is this the same amount, or are you additional $25 for the manufacturing? Can you distinguish the cost?

30. 0:13:24

    Well, I, I, I, I, I spoke to him about that, but he said that normally- It, it's the same cost. The cost would be for the manufacturing that particular plate, and you're gonna pay that ... You'll pay the ... It, it wouldn't pay ... You're gonna have two costs. It would just be one for the-

31. 0:13:38

    Yeah. It, it wouldn't be an addition to what we're paying now for our legislator tag.

32. 0:13:42

    It wouldn't be an addition cost, no.

33. 0:13:42

    It-

34. 0:13:42

    Okay, so the same amount

35. 0:13:43

    ... it's a manufacturer fee.

36. 0:13:44

    Pretty much, yes.

37. 0:13:44

    Standard.

38. 0:13:45

    That's what I wanted to know. Thank you.

39. 0:13:47

    All right, who we having? Number two, Chairman Prince.

40. 0:13:50

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, thank you for bringing this bill. Uh, again, I've signed off on it. Let me ask you a question. Uh, do we not have handicap placards that you could, uh, the same legislator could hang in his or her, uh, car-

41. 0:14:07

    Well, we do have-

42. 0:14:07

    ... like, uh, every- like, like everyone else would, possibly alleviate some of the cost?

43. 0:14:11

    Yeah, we, we do have leg- placards that we can ha- right now I have a placard that I can hang in my car, but I nevertheless, I still got two tickets.

44. 0:14:18

    Still got tickets?

45. 0:14:20

    I got one in, uh, up in Atlanta, part of Atlanta that I had to go and ... Because they, sometime they, in, in the windshield, they can't see it. It's, it's obstructed up that they can't see it properly because you can't hang it. These new cars, you can't hang it from your, your back win- you know, your back, you know, your, your rear window. So sometime they can't see it. And a lot of the guys, you, you, you have them in there ... I have them every time I park in a handicap space, but I've still had citizen look at me and point to me that I'm, I'm violating the law and I'm above the law kind of thing.

46. 0:14:52

    So, so I think it's just a little bit of leeway.

47. 0:14:54

    Even when you have your placard hanging in the window?

48. 0:14:55

    Even, even when the placard's there, yes.

49. 0:14:59

    Number 19, Representative McClain.

50. 0:15:01

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I guess, uh, Representative Myers, you also said, too, that I guess the reason that, that you thought about it was it was a small number. Uh, I mean, it's ... I mean, I, that was my only concern is, is that, um, it's, you know, you, there's 180 of us and, and, and 179 of us think we're not disabled. Um, but, but maybe we are, but

51. 0:15:28

    ... This side of the table don't count. Okay. All right. Well, so I mean, I'm just trying to ... You know, I, I just would, didn't want ... I didn't know, and I heard about the cost, too, you know, Chairman Corbett, so I just wanted to make sure that no one thought we were doing something that, um, was above the law or, or, or, or, or that we were the elite class.

52. 0:15:51

    Well, if, if they see you with a, you know, legislative tag, gets, g- gets some attention. B- I don't know. Y'all know that, right? I mean, you know, policemen look at it, citizens look at it. They see those legislative tag. I seem to stop a lot and look at when you're parked and so. And if you're parked illegally, they're gonna look there and say, "Okay." I've had them look at the legislative tag and look at me and like, you know, you point to me like I'm violating the law or something because I don't have a handicap sticker there. And I, I ... And, and it's, it, it's, it's not unknowing, but you don't want to get the impression that we out here, and I'm broken, breaking the law, and I'm a legislator and I, I can a- break, break the law because I have a legislative tag.

53. 0:16:30

    It just alleviates all of that confusion and so forth.

54. 0:16:33

    Okay. Well, you know, that was ... You know, thank you, you know, for the, for the bill. Uh, again, I just wanted to make sure that, you know, there's only, you know, so many of us, and I didn't know if w- if we met the threshold, so.

55. 0:16:45

    Well, or you say-

56. 0:16:46

    The joining us that is

57. 0:16:48

    ... I don't know what you mean.

58. 0:16:49

    What threshold? Yeah. Well, I said, you know, that, uh, you know, a minimum, the minimum amount of tags that has to be built, I mean, uh, be made.

59. 0:16:57

    Well, that, that amount, I, I, you know, I talked to, uh, the people down there at revenue and they said that, that we can, they can vary that amount. And we know that, um, how many legislator we have currently and how many legislator we have retired, and, uh, there hadn't been a actual survey of how many of those who actually are, are handicap. But the current population is about 7.9% of population, and, uh, we should fall somewhere in there, which give it about 50 or 60, maybe 70 at the most.

60. 0:17:28

    Well, well, again, thank you for the bill and, and I'm looking forward to, uh, uh, to, to get me one of them tags.

61. 0:17:36

    Uh, you, you in too good of shape. I'm, I'm ... You can't do that. Uh, we, we did have request, uh, and it's pretty well standard on the effective date, uh, on other bills we've, we've passed, the DOR, uh, request that we put an effective date of January 1, 2027. That gives them time to get everything they, they, they need done just to set up to start issuing the tag. So, uh, I, I would, uh, entertain a moti- Second. Motion on the bill. We got a motion on the bill. Second. And a second. Now I need a motion for the amendment on effective date.

62. 0:18:07

    So moved. Do I have a second?

63. 0:18:09

    Second.

64. 0:18:09

    Second. All right. All in favor of the amendment changing the effective date to January 1, 2027 all say aye.

65. 0:18:15

    Aye.

66. 0:18:16

    All opposed likes sign. All right, now we're voting on the bill as amended. All in favor say aye.

67. 0:18:22

    Aye.

68. 0:18:23

    All opposed likes sign. You have, you have your bill.

69. 0:18:27

    All right. Thank you. Thank, thank you, Madam. Thank you, sir.

70. 0:18:29

    All right. Now we, we will go back to, uh, House Bill 1073, uh, w- the bill we've seen before, and we've got one small change. I'll ask Representative Carter she have come to the, uh, table and, and tell us what that, that small change that was made.

71. 0:18:49

    Good morning, committee. Good morning, Chairman.

72. 0:18:51

    Morning.

73. 0:18:51

    Thank you all for, uh, allowing me to come back in front of you. We are looking at HB 1073 LC 395003 S, and we made a, a minor amendment, uh, to this, uh, legislation where we added, uh, the language Jackson State University National Alumni Association Metro Atlanta Chapter. We want to, everyone is, uh, certain that the funds were for Georgia students, and it's for the Atlanta chapter, which is in, in Georgia.

74. 0:19:24

    And, and that's pretty well standard what we do with these other plates as well, and I would just-

75. 0:19:28

    Yes

76. 0:19:28

    ... uh, so.

77. 0:19:29

    Clock time.

78. 0:19:31

    Uh, do-

79. 0:19:31

    Turn the light off

80. 0:19:32

    ... uh, do we have any questions for the author? If not, now would be the time We got a, we got a motion and a second. Any further discussion? All in favor say aye.

81. 0:19:44

    Aye.

82. 0:19:44

    I make a motion with amendment or not?

83. 0:19:47

    No, not this one, not amendment. This, this is-

84. 0:19:49

    This is-

85. 0:19:49

    This, this is sub.

86. 0:19:50

    Okay then.

87. 0:19:52

    All right, all right. All in favor say aye.

88. 0:19:53

    Aye.

89. 0:19:54

    All opposed like sign.

90. 0:19:56

    That's really good.

91. 0:19:57

    All right. One more time.

92. 0:19:58

    Thank you so much. Have a good day.

93. 0:19:59

    All right, now we're gonna move on to House, House Bill 1465, Representative McCollum.

94. 0:20:07

    Is there anybody signed up to speak on that 1465?

95. 0:20:34

    Oh, wonderful. All right, if you ... Uh, Representative McCollum, tell us your bill number and the LC number and we'll turn it over to you.

96. 0:20:42

    Good morning. Good morning, committee. Good morning, Chairman. Thank you for having me. Um, it's House Bill 1465 LC394983.

97. 0:20:52

    Wait, wait a minute. Timeout.

98. 0:20:55

    Which one you got? Which one?

99. 0:20:58

    Well, we have the sub. I'm sorry.

100. 0:21:00

     You, you don't, you don't have a copy of the sub?

101. 0:21:02

     I do not.

102. 0:21:02

     Oh.

103. 0:21:02

     I'm sorry.

104. 0:21:03

     Let's get him a copy of the-

105. 0:21:04

     Yeah

106. 0:21:04

     ... the sub we got this morning.

107. 0:21:08

     Thank you.

108. 0:21:10

     All right. All right, now start over.

109. 0:21:11

     All right, here we go. LC395015S.

110. 0:21:17

     All right. We'll buy that.

111. 0:21:21

     All right. Ready?

112. 0:21:22

     Yes. The floor is yours.

113. 0:21:25

     This, um, so this bill's pretty simple. It removes the requirement for an annual license plate decal in Georgia. The bill modernizes our vehicle regir- registration system. Uh, law enforcement, um, doesn't rely on these, these stickers any longer. Uh, they check with a database, database in the ALPR technology. It's a license, the, the cameras essentially. Um, this will save the state $4.6 million for not having to do these, and then my, my tax assessor brought this to me.

114. 0:21:58

     She said it would save them a lot of labor. They have to buy these stickers two years in advance and store them. Um, so they're just not necessary. Tech- technology's outrun the, the stickers essentially. Um, that's pretty much the bill. It's, it's very simple. It's a long bill because, uh, ledge council had to go through it and I think there was 30 to 40 strikes she had to make, so I made Gina do a lot of work on this bill. Uh, she was super happy when I brought it to her. So, but that's the bill. I, I'll stand for any questions.

115. 0:22:28

     And i- i- if, if I read this-

116. 0:22:30

     Enjoy it.

117. 0:22:31

     WI- wi- well, th- thanks for bringing the bill. If I read this right, it'll also save the, uh, uh, car owner a dollar a year. They won't have to pay that dollar fee t-

118. 0:22:40

     That's right

119. 0:22:40

     ... as, as well.

120. 0:22:40

     Yes.

121. 0:22:41

     Right?

122. 0:22:41

     Yes.

123. 0:22:42

     All right, and then you said other s- other states have done this, so you, did you speak to that?

124. 0:22:47

     Florida has done this. I don't know where they got their number unless, unless, uh, our department. They, they said that it was $26 million savings to them, so their process might be a little bit different. But this, this estimate that DOR got was just a rough estimate. They just kind of put it together. So, but still, $4.6 million is, is a good savings. Yeah.

125. 0:23:07

     Would, would, would DOR like to comment or y'all, anything? Austin, would you like to make a comment?

126. 0:23:19

     Yeah.

127. 0:23:19

     We just ... A- Austin Givens, Department of Revenue. We just want to thank Representative McCollum for working with us. Um, yes, the, the estimate was about 4.6 to $4.9 million in terms of cost savings on what we spent on these decals in calendar year 2025.

128. 0:23:37

     Do we have any, any questions for DOR? If not-

129. 0:23:40

     Move to pass.

130. 0:23:41

     Thank you. All right, we've got several questions for the author. Where, where do we start here? Number 19, Representative McClain.

131. 0:23:48

     Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I, I guess, you know, I need to, uh, wrap my head around, so no more little bitty decals, one, and two, so when I go to Kroger and those places that print my little decals and stuff out, I guess we're gonna have to abolish all the ... I'm, I'm just trying to figure out exactly how, how this works.

132. 0:24:10

     So y- when you go to Kroger, the, again, my tax assessor said that they have to use a special paper. So now when you go to Kroger, you're gonna, gonna renew it. Um, you'll get y- they'll print out the, the paper and, you know, you're, y- that's all you'll have. That's all you need. Uh, you don't need the s- the sticker any longer. It's just not necessary.

133. 0:24:30

     So, uh, uh, so people will drive around without a sticker and, and so you're saying everybody's gonna read everybody's car and you're not gonna know if, um, if I paid my registration?

134. 0:24:45

     Well, the, the, for now there's two colors. So if you, if you're born in, say, April, um, your color is, let's just say, red, well, the person that's born in, uh, June, their color might still be white. So the officers don't necessarily ... There, there's, they can't see the, the little date on there unless they walk up to the vehicle. Um, so the colors aren't corresponding anyway. They can't, they're not gonna just pull you over because you have a, a, a red one because yours might still be active and yours could be a, a different color.

135. 0:25:20

     I mean, I don't, I don't, I mean, I don't know how that is because my tag has, like, 26 on it. All of the 26-

136. 0:25:26

     This thick

137. 0:25:26

     ... yeah, all of them, the, all of them, all 26 tags, the decals are the same color.

138. 0:25:31

     Right.

139. 0:25:31

     They're not red or blue. They just, you know, if it's 26. If it's 25, it was, they were all the same color.

140. 0:25:38

     Yeah, and it-

141. 0:25:38

     I'm just trying to make sure that-

142. 0:25:40

     I, I think that depends on the month, you know, on there

143. 0:25:42

     ... that's right

144. 0:25:42

     ... like my, mine's in September. It, and when I put it on it this year, say, 27.

145. 0:25:46

     Mm-hmm.

146. 0:25:47

     It mean, it, it'll still be 26, but it, you, you c-

147. 0:25:51

     Okay. So, so the 27 is a different color?

148. 0:25:54

     Mm-hmm.

149. 0:25:54

     All I was, all I wa- you know, I mean, regardless of when you got it, it was always, uh, the same color, I mean, of the year. So whatever color you got for 27, that's what color we gonna have for 27.

150. 0:26:06

     You know, but I, I'll, I'll actually put it on in 26, and it'll say 27. It'd be good till se- but anyway, we-

151. 0:26:11

     Yes

152. 0:26:12

     ... we-

153. 0:26:12

     I mean, I, I mean, but I, I like the... I just wanted to make sure I understood-

154. 0:26:15

     Right

155. 0:26:16

     ... around, you know, it's so the, so the machines, the investments they made on those machines-

156. 0:26:21

     Yeah

157. 0:26:21

     ... will not be any good anymore.

158. 0:26:23

     No. You still can renew... You're still gonna have to renew your tag. So you can go, you just, you just won't get the sticker, uh, when that prints out. So the machines will have a different paper in there, which is a lot cheaper, uh, for the counties as well.

159. 0:26:37

     Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

160. 0:26:39

     All right. And, and I, I did just get a, uh, text from a, a good friend in the audience that Florida just passed this, this measure.

161. 0:26:45

     That's right.

162. 0:26:45

     So but anyway, uh, we do have several other questions. Number 23. Representative Montahan.

163. 0:26:52

     Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, thank you, Representative McCollum for bringing the bill. Uh, I have a couple questions. I'll start with, um, this. So you're gonna replace it with, you're eliminating that. Are you replacing the revalidation sticker with anything else? Is it, for example, a barcode that can be scanned?

164. 0:27:14

     Well, that would be, uh, that would be nice, but no, this bill just removes that. Um, I mean, a officer's gonna come up behind you, and he's just gonna run your tag. Then, the... He just uses the, the big number on your tag anyway, uh, with his computer in his, in his car. Uh, I would venture to say pretty much all officers have a computer in their car now, and they can just type it in, uh, while they're riding behind you.

165. 0:27:37

     Do we know that all officers have these? I, I would presume to. I'm from New Pauling.

166. 0:27:42

     Mm-hmm.

167. 0:27:42

     I know they do.

168. 0:27:43

     Mm-hmm.

169. 0:27:43

     Uh, both, you know, county and cities do. But have we, have we talked to the Georgia Sheriff's Association about how they, how are they f- where are they at on this bill?

170. 0:27:53

     Well, I talked to, uh, the colonel with the state patrol, and he, he said they, they run the tag, or they have the, the automated cameras. Um, and then the Sheriff's Association, I talked to them and, and, uh, kinda explained it to them. They, they didn't get back to me in a negative way. So-

171. 0:28:09

     They did get back to you?

172. 0:28:10

     They did- didn't, mm-mm. They didn't get back to me in a negative way.

173. 0:28:14

     Did they get back to you at all?

174. 0:28:15

     No, we haven't discussed it.

175. 0:28:18

     Okay.

176. 0:28:19

     But I figured if they had an issue, they would come to si- see me.

177. 0:28:22

     Okay. I'm j-

178. 0:28:24

     W- w- well, these a- li- license plate readers that they have in their car now, is it scanning the barcode on this revalidation sticker, or is it reading the tag itself?

179. 0:28:32

     It reads the full tag.

180. 0:28:36

     Tell me about Florida's, if... Mr. Chairman, if I may?

181. 0:28:38

     If, if... Yes, go ahead.

182. 0:28:39

     Uh, tell me about Florida's model. You just, you mentioned Florida has done away with that, so did they replace it with a barcode?

183. 0:28:47

     No. Not that I know of, uh, but the, the cost savings would not be there if you're gonna replace it with something different. Um, but to their point, uh, I read a little bit about the article. They said in Miami, they, they're getting st- stolen a lot anyway, so, um, you know, these things get stolen, and you just put it on another car. So if you were like-

184. 0:29:08

     The stickers are getting stolen?

185. 0:29:09

     That's correct.

186. 0:29:10

     Okay. So could they pre-print some type of bar... I, I'm, I guess I'm just worried about, you know, one, the, the, the reverification. It's an easy indicator for law enforcement to see that this person has not renewed their tag. Um, though I have from time to time know that myself, uh, because if that, if, if you got a check engine light on, right, you, you're stuck and, and it's a, it, it's, it's gonna tell on you. But I do think, and I, I might have some reservations given the fact that I know this is a tool that law enforcement can use to make sure visibly that that person has a renewed registration.

187. 0:29:53

     And as we've had conversations about stolen vehicles and otherwise, you know, this is something that, uh, I would just, I would have some reservations. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

188. 0:30:04

     Well, um, um, respond would be, um, you know, technology's just outrun these. Like my grandmother, she don't use a cell phone, these new fa- that thing of cell phones either. So I mean, technology just changes and it outruns, runs these, you know, things.

189. 0:30:19

     All right. Representative Ridley, 24.

190. 0:30:21

     Thank you. Uh, I want to thank you for this bill. Uh, Whitfield County, Danny Sain there, I think they issue the most license tag other than the airport, uh, 'cause all the trucking and all that stuff, and that's always been a big issue that he's had is the cost of it is kind of overwhelming what the, the residual is on it. Um, and then you take a trucking company or something that has to go out there and stick all the little stickers on there, and, and I know like my old work trucks, you spill diesel fuel out the back of them, those stickers won't stay on there too long. They fall off. Uh, so I'm, I appreciate you for bringing the bill in.

191. 0:30:52

     It's something that I think s- uh, we should've been doing a while back.

192. 0:30:56

     All right. Well, I will respond to that. They, they, the DOR did, uh, just, so, so they did exclude out the trucks.

193. 0:31:03

     Okay.

194. 0:31:04

     So maybe that's something we tackle in the future.

195. 0:31:05

     On the commercial side.

196. 0:31:06

     Yes, sir.

197. 0:31:06

     Okay.

198. 0:31:07

     Mm-hmm. All right. Number 12, Representative Taylor.

199. 0:31:10

     Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, so on our plates, they're the little four corners.

200. 0:31:15

     Mm-hmm.

201. 0:31:16

     Is this going, this bill going to impact how the tag's being designed? Are we gonna have new tag designs, and is that gonna incur a cost?

202. 0:31:24

     No. I mean, there's so many different tags out there now. I mean, and I'll go one step farther. I'd love to see legislation that we just continue using your old tag over and over again if, you know, if you have a tag, but that's something obviously different. But, but, you know, we've got, I mean, uh, so many different tags. I mean, it feels like... You know, so.

203. 0:31:44

     Well, I, I appreciate you bringing the bill because as you were sitting here talking, it dawned on me. I renewed mine in September, and I, I have a... Cover over my plate and my, I haven't put my decal on my sticker. Right.

204. 0:31:56

     And that was in September of last year, so.

205. 0:31:58

     Maybe you won't have to worry about it.

206. 0:31:59

     Yeah, right. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, I mean, Mr. Chairman. Number, number 22. Representative Chairman Smith.

207. 0:32:08

     22. Refute.

208. 0:32:11

     Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If you'd look at the example from a previous bill that we had, you'd see that tag right there at the bottom and, uh-

209. 0:32:17

     No barcode

210. 0:32:18

     ... that no barcode on there. No. And so I know it's, it- it's important to some people, but you, they're reading the big tag right there. That's right. Yeah. Thank you. You got it. Th- thanks for that. Number 23, Representative Momtahan.

211. 0:32:33

     Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, just talking with some folks out here, I think the Sheriff's Association folks, uh, are here today. They, uh... Could they speak to the tag readers? I don't know that-

212. 0:32:44

     Yeah, I- I- I got, I got somebody else who wants to speak as well.

213. 0:32:47

     Okay.

214. 0:32:47

     Absolutely. I-

215. 0:32:48

     Thank you, Mr. Chairman

216. 0:32:49

     ... I'm, I'm a former rep, uh, of a good friend, Michael Gravley. Uh, he's, I think he's got some information on this as well.

217. 0:32:56

     Thank, thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. Uh, yes, uh, Representative McCollum is correct. Florida just passed this bill, believe it was House Bill 253. It was an overwhelming majority. Believe the vote was, uh, 93 to 17. This is a measure that is supported by Governor DeSantis, and let me tell you why. The, the, the reason for this bill was to eliminate the requirement for the annual yellow registration sticker, the sticker that all of you see and that, uh, Representative Smith just put up. It's the green sticker. You have to get it in the mail or apply for it.

218. 0:33:29

     The reason they wanted to do this was to save taxpayer money, and because th- they're either trying to reduce bureaucracy, um, and they're also moving to a fully electronic system. Now, I'm not speaking on behalf of law enforcement, but the, the re- what it does is re- it removes the requirement for the physical y- yearly validation stickers, but owners must still renew, which is what law enforcement would see on those tag readers. They would see whether or not this owner is renewed immediately upon figuring out if they, if they read that tag.

219. 0:34:01

     Uh, law enforcement already uses electronic systems for verification, and this moves, moves to, this move aims to reduce cost and fraud. So I just wanted to speak to those, uh, particular issues of why Florida did this.

220. 0:34:15

     Tha- thank you for that, and I'll ask the Sh- Sheriff's Association if they'd like to speak to that as well.

221. 0:34:20

     Yes, sir. Good morning, Committee. My name is Mike Mitchell. I'm the deputy director of the Georgia Sheriff's Association. Uh, I would challenge each of you as you're out and about to look at the number of law enforcement vehicles that have tag readers, uh, mounted on them. There are very few. Uh, I would caution this committee about, uh, getting too far out in front of the technology. Uh, if this is, uh, a path that the general assembly wishes to take, uh, I would say let's let technology catch up, uh, here in Georgia before we roll this out.

222. 0:34:52

     'Cause I can tell you that most, uh, law enforcement vehicles do not have these tag readers, and we just can't, uh, be running, uh, tags, uh, for no reason, uh, through the radio system. So I would just say, uh, I would just caution the, uh, committee about getting too far ahead. And I will say that, uh, decals also serve, uh, as a very, uh, good reason for a stop. Just as Representative Momtahan mentioned, it's good PC for a stop. Uh, so if we see a decal that is obviously out of date, uh, that's good PC for a stop for us.

223. 0:35:27

     So I would just make those two comments. We do have concerns about this bill. I'm not here to oppose it, uh, but we did express, uh, some of these concerns to the representative when he brought it to our attention.

224. 0:35:37

     C- can, can you speak to the number of flock cameras that are out there that are reading these tags? I know the county I live in, you can't go down a highway without your tag being read. I mean, and, uh, if they come into the county and it's out of date, they have them pulled over before they get to the, you know, two miles inside the county.

225. 0:35:53

     Yeah, flock cameras are not designed to pick up on expired tags or, or, uh, suspended registration. They're, they're looking for hits on tags, uh, that are placed in the system where we've got a BOLO out for a vehicle. So, uh, we're not, the, the tag readers on the cars do that, but I don't think flock's currently being used for that.

226. 0:36:11

     I, I, I would... My, our, our s- I know somebody that was pulled over for expired registration plate twice before they, they made it all the way, you know, into, into the county.

227. 0:36:19

     That must be, that must be something recent. I-

228. 0:36:22

     Yeah.

229. 0:36:22

     Yeah.

230. 0:36:23

     All right, we got several other questions here. Chairman.

231. 0:36:25

     I have a question.

232. 0:36:26

     All right.

233. 0:36:27

     You said that y'all use these for probable cause pull overs.

234. 0:36:30

     Correct.

235. 0:36:31

     Well, reasonable suspicion.

236. 0:36:33

     Reasonable suspicion.

237. 0:36:33

     I, I've-

238. 0:36:33

     But that's, that's just the law

239. 0:36:34

     ... that's not law enforcement, just law enforcement slang. We call it PC. But yeah, I mean, you gotta, you gotta have reasonable suspicion to make a stop and-

240. 0:36:41

     Right, but, but just pulling somebody over just to, using it because you, their sticker, you're supposed to be pulling them over because they're, you're worried about their driving or something like that, right?

241. 0:36:51

     I, I worried about that sticker quite a bit. I can tell you I made a lot of stops based on expired decals. I certainly did, and that usually leads to moving charges.

242. 0:37:00

     How, how many, how many counties? 'Cause I can't think of a single county that don't have a tag reader in their cars.

243. 0:37:05

     I can think of several.

244. 0:37:07

     Well, how are they pulling people over then?

245. 0:37:10

     Well, typically it's off of an expired decal, for example. It could be other reasonable, uh, tra- other traffic violations that are pulling folks over.

246. 0:37:19

     Okay. I'm more now for, I want to get rid of them now m- more than ever.

247. 0:37:23

     N- number two, Chairman Prince.

248. 0:37:25

     Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, to your point, uh, is it not true that, uh, if a police officer pulls someone over, uh, they, they have a means, reach back if they don't have a tag reader themselves on them, uh, to call back and r- have a tag run?

249. 0:37:45

     Yeah. I mean, you-

250. 0:37:45

     Okay

251. 0:37:46

     ... run a tag as part of a traffic stop.

252. 0:37:47

     Right. And then at that time they, uh, they should be able to tell them if that tag is valid or not. Is that correct?

253. 0:37:54

     Correct.

254. 0:37:56

     But we're not going around running tags. I mean-

255. 0:37:58

     But, I mean, I thought I heard you just say-

256. 0:37:59

     Yeah

257. 0:37:59

     ... you do, you-

258. 0:38:00

     No, we don't, I, I mean, w- no

259. 0:38:02

     ... you would pull someone over if you saw an, you think, an unexpired sticker.

260. 0:38:07

     Correct. If it, I mean, it's either expired or it's not.

261. 0:38:09

     But you wouldn't run that, but you wouldn't run that tag.

262. 0:38:11

     It's either expired or it's not.

263. 0:38:13

     Correct.

264. 0:38:13

     So-

265. 0:38:13

     But, but my question is, would you not run that tag if you thought it was, if you saw a exp-

266. 0:38:19

     Oh, yeah, absolutely

267. 0:38:20

     ... expired?

268. 0:38:20

     Yeah, absolutely.

269. 0:38:21

     And at that time, wouldn't technology or whoever you reach back to tell you that, verify if that tag is expired or not?

270. 0:38:30

     Correct.

271. 0:38:32

     So the pulling over for an expired tag or sticker, I'm gonna say tag-

272. 0:38:38

     Right

273. 0:38:41

     ... is the...

274. 0:38:46

     I'm not sure. Look.

275. 0:38:47

     Okay.

276. 0:38:47

     I'll let it go.

277. 0:38:49

     All right. Um, we're gonna take one more question-

278. 0:38:52

     Yes, sir

279. 0:38:52

     ... and then we're gonna move on for the sake of time. Representative Momtahan.

280. 0:38:56

     Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, and thank you, Mr. Mitchell. Uh, the question is, I think we're talking about the chicken or the egg.

281. 0:39:02

     Correct.

282. 0:39:03

     So you see one of these expired tags, one that ha- does not have a sticker on it. You pull this person over.

283. 0:39:12

     Mm-hmm.

284. 0:39:12

     Then you run that tag through the computer system or so- or you called in on your radio, whatever that county may have. Not every county has these tag readers.

285. 0:39:21

     Correct.

286. 0:39:21

     Those are new technology. But I think as we're having these discussions about affordability, that you have found in your experience that typically this lack of registration is tied to no insurance on the vehicle.

287. 0:39:35

     Mm-hmm.

288. 0:39:35

     Or could be. There could be corre- a strong correlation between no... Because if you don't have insurance, you cannot renew the tag. Isn't that correct?

289. 0:39:43

     Correct.

290. 0:39:44

     So as we're having these discussions about affordability, isn't it true that we need to make sure that if, if all Georgians are required to have insurance-

291. 0:39:54

     Mm-hmm

292. 0:39:54

     ... that we have a easy, visible way to make sure that they have the insurance on the vehicle, that the, and then the registration is renewed at that point in time, and it sets a shotgun to make sure that every year Georgians have a easy indicator to know that within the last 12 months they have had some insurance on that vehicle? Because if I get hit by somebody who doesn't have insurance, my insurance has to pay them out, and that could cause my insurance rates to go up. Isn't it true?

293. 0:40:24

     Yes, sir.

294. 0:40:25

     Thank you.

295. 0:40:28

     All right. We will take two more. Representative R- Ridley.

296. 0:40:31

     Yeah, let me respond to that. First of all, the way it works right now, if you don't have insurance, it cancels your tag.

297. 0:40:36

     Mm-hmm.

298. 0:40:36

     And you get a letter in the mail. They get a notice, too. The only way they know you don't have insurance is 'cause they're running their own tag reader. That's the reason you get pulled over for not having a insurance.

299. 0:40:44

     Mm-hmm.

300. 0:40:45

     And whenever you give the driver's license when pulled over, it tells if your insurance is current or not.

301. 0:40:49

     Right.

302. 0:40:51

     Uh, that did them.

303. 0:40:53

     Uh, uh, uh, all right. We're, we're, we're gonna move, move on. I think we've heard enough debate on this, this subject. I will ask, what's the will of the committee? Move to pass. I don't recognize that motion.

304. 0:41:04

     I make a motion to pass.

305. 0:41:05

     Pass. All right. Well, all right, we got a motion and a second. Uh, any further discussion? All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed likes aye. No. All right. That's two against. The motion carried.

306. 0:41:20

     Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

307. 0:41:21

     Thank you. All right, we have one other measure. Always a good way to start off on Monday morning. House Bill 184. Chairman Lumsden. I know...

308. 0:41:35

     All right.

309. 0:41:44

     Morning, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. I bring to you House Bill 184, LC number 394999S. Now, this is a substitute bill that brings the rules and procedures around the involuntary towing industry in Georgia up to date with practices around the country, and most notably with our border states. This has been a collaborative effort between the affected parties, namely the towing industry, the rental car industry, the Georgia magistrate judges, and the Georgia Department of Revenue.

310. 0:42:22

     This bill has been worked on by the affected parties for over a year. This is compromised language that all parties have agreed to in principle. There may be a few more tweaks to the bill, but this is an acceptable framework as I understand it. This bill does several things. Um, first, uh, we already have, uh, a code section, uh, covering this, but it changes a few things in that code section. Primarily, uh, it creates a towed, um, uh, vehicle, uh, database.

311. 0:42:53

     Section one through four covers its creation and its operation, and it requires that the VIN number of the towed vehicle be entered into this database, and the da- and that the database be accessible to the public so that they may obtain information about the vehicle's location. Uh, this database may be operated by a third party, but it's all done in conjunction with the Department of Revenue, uh, so, uh, it's, um, uh, they, they have been involved in, in this, these discussions. Uh, it changes, uh, the number of days from 15 calendar days down to seven days from, uh, the removal of initial storage of a motor vehicle a towing or storage firm has to notify the, uh, owner of the vehicle that it's been towed.

312. 0:43:37

     It removes the required notification in the, uh, local, local legal organ of the county where the vehicle was towed by purchasing an advertisement, and it stipulates that the vehicle owner is not subject to pay any storage fees for days accumulated before the owner is notified, and that to collect such fees, the, uh, tower or the storage, storage company, uh, have to comply by the notification regulations in this code section. Uh, it further stipulates that the owner of the vehicle may file an answer to the notice no later than 30 calendar days after notice was sent.

313. 0:44:12

     Mr. Chairman, that's the basic changes to the existing law. Uh, that's what the bill does. Uh, I believe there are representatives from the affected parties that are present here today and would like to make some comments, but this has been an ongoing, um, discussion- ... as I said, for a year, and you of course have been involved in it. So, um, I'll be glad to answer any questions that I can, but I also have some folks here I believe that wanna make some comments, and they might be able to address the specifics of your question if I can't.

314. 0:44:42

     Yeah, and I want to thank you for bringing the bill, and thank you for your willingness to, to work with both sides to get together to try to come up with something that works, and I think we're close, close to that. But, uh, you know, time's getting short in the session, so we, we did need to move on and get any questions out there that we might have. Number 28, Chairman Powell.

315. 0:45:00

     Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And, uh, Chairman Lunsford, I want to tell you how much I appreciate you bringing this bill up here. I think that Chairman Corbett and I have worked on this issue several times over the years on behalf of the, uh, the impoundment lots and the lengthy process and notification to the owners of a vehicle, and it just goes on and on and on. Derelict vehicles that are sent to these lots, that there's nothing except just a loss of revenue for these folks. This will finally start putting some teeth into it to give some ra- radical, uh, some rational process to this.

316. 0:45:36

     And I want to thank you for bringing this bill. And, uh, since time is getting short, I'll be glad to make a motion at the proper time.

317. 0:45:44

     Yeah. Well, we d- we do have another question, and we do have some members signed up would like to speak to it. Number 19, Chairman, uh, Representative Martin.

318. 0:45:51

     Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I, I guess, uh, on line 32, you said calendar days. I didn't understand what that... I mean, was that like Friday, Saturday, Sunday? I didn't...

319. 0:46:04

     On line 32.

320. 0:46:05

     Right. Right. That was a change. As I said, that was an agreed-upon, um, consideration as I understand it because, um, making clear that it was three consecutive days, three calendar days, not three business days.

321. 0:46:18

     But so Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and you're not open on Saturday and Sunday, so that-

322. 0:46:24

     As I said, this was a concession that was-

323. 0:46:26

     But this, this database is 24/7.

324. 0:46:28

     Yeah, the database once it's-

325. 0:46:29

     Where- where before, the old way, you had to go to the courthouse, the sheriff's office to, to run, find out who the owner was. And this database, I think, will be 24/7 the way I understand it.

326. 0:46:38

     Right.

327. 0:46:38

     So they can- that's the, I think, the change to the three calendar days to speed that clock up for everybody.

328. 0:46:43

     Okay. Like, well, I, I guess line 64 is the, the same reason you went from 15, 15 calendar days to seven days, so you did the-

329. 0:46:54

     Well, the, the-

330. 0:46:54

     ... so now are these seven business days or, or calendar days? I didn't know if, and that was line 64.

331. 0:47:05

     Are that calendar days, or that business days?

332. 0:47:09

     I'm not sure what the purpose of that particular tweak was. As I said, it was, um, an agreed upon-

333. 0:47:15

     And, and I think w- I think we have some, some s-

334. 0:47:17

     I think we have some signed up

335. 0:47:17

     ... we have some signed up to speak on it.

336. 0:47:18

     Correct.

337. 0:47:18

     They can, they can talk to that measure if you-

338. 0:47:21

     Okay

339. 0:47:21

     ... w- we can, we can ask them if that-

340. 0:47:23

     I, I just didn't know

341. 0:47:24

     ... will do.

342. 0:47:24

     Yeah, I, I-

343. 0:47:25

     I, I mean-

344. 0:47:25

     In my mind, it should either be, read seven business days or calendar days. It needs to be specified. But as I said, the language that was agreed upon or was put in the bill, and as I said, there are a few more tweaks that may come about. This is a basic framework that's been agreed to, but there are a few more tweaks that may come about as a result of it.

345. 0:47:41

     Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

346. 0:47:43

     All right. So we have, uh, Rusty Sewell, if he'll come to the podium, tell us who he's with and, uh,

347. 0:47:53

     co-

348. 0:47:53

     Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, and I want to thank you and Chairman Lunsford to have been working on this for a long time. As, uh, Chairman Powell said, we spent an arduous year working on this a few years ago. It's hard to do. I, I also want to thank Legislative Counsel's office 'cause what we gave Jenna, she had to put together. And some of the questions like y'all are asking there, these are the little technical things that we need to get together and work out-

349. 0:48:27

     I-

350. 0:48:27

     ... and that's what we're trying to do.

351. 0:48:29

     I'm sorry.

352. 0:48:30

     The whole-

353. 0:48:30

     Te- tell us who you, you're representing.

354. 0:48:32

     Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

355. 0:48:33

     Enterprise. Right here.

356. 0:48:34

     Yeah.

357. 0:48:34

     Okay.

358. 0:48:35

     And what, uh, what we're trying to do here, basically two things: allow people the, whose cars have been towed an easy, quick way to find out where they are, whether they're businesses, you know, your, your own personal car or whatever, they know where they are. Secondly, also hopefully streamline the system which allows towers, particularly there are some cars, and we've talked about this, there are like 15% of the cars that they end up with that nobody's ever gonna want.

359. 0:49:10

     I mean, they're, they're, they're there and, and we need a process to hopefully get them off their lots and move them along fairly quickly. So those are the two big things, but, but as the chairman has said, we're working on this, and hopefully we'll again work on it today and hopefully be back to y'all fairly quickly with, uh, the changes. I've never seen a perfect bill in my 50 years here. Don't intend to , and, uh, we will work it out as it goes along.

360. 0:49:43

     Okay. And, and I didn't say or this hearing only, we will have it again in the morning at 8:00 meeting, uh, on, on this, this measure as well. So, uh, do we have any questions for, uh, Mr. Sewell? Number 12, Representative Taylor.

361. 0:49:56

     Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I, I, I keep seeing the word submission, but is this electronic submission?

362. 0:50:02

     Yes.

363. 0:50:03

     That the, um, the-

364. 0:50:05

     The-

365. 0:50:05

     ... towers, towing companies or those third-party companies are literally going to a computer and inserting this into the database.

366. 0:50:13

     That is correct. Uh, the- we're copying mainly Florida, Tennessee. There are other states that do this also. And what the Department of Revenue does is contract with a third party so that they have access to the records and all. But what would happen is somebody comes along, tows your car, then within those three days, they're going to notify or, or, you know, send in the, the VIN number so that to find out whose car it is.

367. 0:50:46

     Also, that on that repository it will be there. So if you need to call, try to find your car, you will have a number to call or email, whatever them, and that they can find. But it is, it is totally-

368. 0:51:01

     I like-

369. 0:51:01

     ... for the-

370. 0:51:02

     I like the, the idea of having a database. I'm just-

371. 0:51:04

     It-

372. 0:51:04

     So I- is this all gonna be electronic? It's the only way they can submit this information.

373. 0:51:09

     That is correct.

374. 0:51:10

     Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

375. 0:51:12

     All right. Seeing no further questions, we do have a- another couple more signed up to speak. Uh, John Clayton.

376. 0:51:40

     Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of committee. Um, I'm John Clayton, and I'm here on behalf of TRAG, the Towing and Recovery Association of Georgia. I have with me Steve Welch. Well, he is president of the Towing and Recovery Association of Georgia. Uh, we represent over 150 towing companies across the State of Georgia. Uh, two years ago, uh, Enterprise came to us with a problem they had about getting their cars back in a timely fashion. We've been working with them over the past two years on a, on a compromised bill with language that we think would benefit us and would allow them to achieve their goals of, of obtaining their car in a timely manner.

377. 0:52:15

     Pardon me. Excuse me. Um, we do have some concerns with the bill. Uh, we did work with them to provide this framework. There's a number of things we do- we would like to work out before we got this in final form. I know we've talked to them about that. We hope we can get there. I can briefly go over some of those concerns with y'all if y'all would like. Um, and I'll try to be quick. I know that we're gonna be here tomorrow. And, and tomorrow we'll have... Um, unfortunately, we didn't have the, the, the attorney for TRAG that typically handles a lot of our abandonment or vehicle issues. Uh, and we also, uh, we're gonna bring Phil Howard, who teaches the class on how to get towing companies, two towing companies, on how to conform with this law.

378. 0:52:52

     Um, just briefly, some of the, some of the questions that we've had. Uh, Section 2, and I think we'll work with, we'll work with the Enterprise and the, and the courts about this today, but we really need some, um, clarity on what DOR's role is in the process. Uh, we understand what the database is. It's, it'd be an, an instance where any car that we towed, we would enter the VIN into that database, and if your, uh, if your car has been towed, you can enter that VIN in to find where your car is located. That would be the general, um, utility of that database. Um, as far as from the towing industry, you know, we would, we're, we're paying to insert our car into that system.

379. 0:53:28

     We would like a cap fee to a certain extent. Uh, it makes sense if it's a, something we can afford, but if it gets to be an exorbitant fee for us to have to pay to put every car in the system, it, it gets a little bit trying on the fact of, of our ability to really wanna do that. Um, when we talk about, um, if you look at, uh, Section 3, and really in Section 4, we talk about three calendar days. We've, we've changed that from three business days to calendar days. We would ask that the committee consider going back to business days on that. Um, and to answer a question I think the committee had, in this code section, if it's, if it's silent, it automatically defaults to business days, not calendar days.

380. 0:54:05

     So I think, uh, where, where we saw earlier, we were changing the 15 calendar days down to seven days, that, that, by, by default, that is seven business days. Um, just a couple other questions we've had through the process, and a lot of these, um, I'm gonna allow tomorrow if we can when, when our attorney comes here. He really does the abandonment or vehicle issues on that. I'll let him speak to that. But I will say there has been a very good compromise effort. We've met plenty of times on this issue. We hope that we can get to, get to a position that we can all agree on.

381. 0:54:36

     We do have some concerns, as I've said. Um, but at this point I'm more than happy to answer any questions the committee may have.

382. 0:54:46

     Okay, I don't see any further questions. We have one other speaker.

383. 0:54:50

     That, that's, um, Mr. Welch will be beside us-

384. 0:54:53

     Okay, Mr. Welch

385. 0:54:53

     ... if that's okay.

386. 0:54:55

     I'm, I'm good.

387. 0:54:58

     Okay, we do have a question. Number two, Chairman Prince.

388. 0:55:00

     Oh, thank you. And, uh, you say you guys have some issues to work out. Now, we talked about meeting tomorrow. Do, is-

389. 0:55:06

     Our intent is to meet after this meeting. So we, we've told all sides on that.

390. 0:55:10

     Thank you.

391. 0:55:11

     Yeah, and, and... Oh, go ahead.

392. 0:55:12

     No, again, I just wanted to make sure we're not going through the same stuff tomorrow morning, uh, trying to work it out. So is anything else that... I mean, you noted two things in Section 2 and Section four. I mean, is there anything e- else major we need to know that you guys are trying to work or that you need help with?

393. 0:55:30

     Section 2 i- is gonna... That, that would help us get some clarity. I think that really is just-

394. 0:55:34

     Yeah, you mentioned those two. But-

395. 0:55:35

     Yeah

396. 0:55:35

     ... anything else? But you say you had a bunch of others. I mean, do you?

397. 0:55:44

     Yeah, we, we, we-

398. 0:55:44

     And we just got it

399. 0:55:46

     ... yeah, we, we, we got this on Thursday. Uh, there, there is one other change I think is important to us, is once the, once the database gets put in place, uh, the towing companies would request one year to come into compliance, and that would be with all vehicles.

400. 0:56:03

     Compliance. All right, seeing no further questions, I, I do, we do have a, uh, somebody here with DOR I'd like to ask to come up and, and speak to this measure as to DOR's role, uh, in this. Uh, so Joe Snowden, if you'll come to the podium and...

401. 0:56:21

     Hey, good morning, Chairman and members of the committee. Joe Snowden with the Department of Revenue. Um, I don't have much to say on the bill at the moment. As, uh, the gentleman said, we'll be meeting after this to discuss a little further. Obviously, the biggest portion of our role in this has to do with the creation and maintenance of the database. Um, at this moment, we think that would probably be through RFI and RFP. We'd have to go through a process to procure that. But, uh, in my initial conversations with this group, I know there were some concerns about the towers themselves being able to use the database. I know that there are some models in the more rural areas where a lot of these towing, you know, s- companies don't necessarily have the most access to internet and computers, right?

402. 0:56:58

     Um, so that's just something that we'll have a continuing discussion on with them and figure out what's best for their group.

403. 0:57:05

     And, and the, this e- this third party, they would set the fee for this?

404. 0:57:10

     That, that's my understanding. Um, obviously, within the bill, it lets us make rule and reg by October 1 to sort of effectuate that. And I think I, I don't wanna misspeak and say something that they're not comfortable with, so I definitely wanna get with them again and, and really understand the process for what they want with this towing database before I, before I go too deeply into it.

405. 0:57:31

     Okay. Number 12, Representative Taylor is on the way.

406. 0:57:34

     Mr. Chairman, you touched on what my concern was, that there was, the limitation to, um, uploading this information to the database being strictly electronic. And so from your perspective as DOR, what, do you propose, or do you surmise that there's gonna be a cost factor for you to make this, to introduce this system, and to staff it to maintain?

407. 0:57:55

     I don't, I don't think there would be too large of a cost for the, on the DOR end. Um, usually when we have a third-party system, right, the, the, the in-house costs are sort of maintained by them. I think a lot of that will have to do with information sharing when it comes into that RFI and RFP, because we do have not incredibly sensitive, but sensitive motor vehicle data that they would need access to. So, uh, that's, that's definitely, you know, a consideration, but, but not really on the forefront of our concern right now.

408. 0:58:20

     And Mr. Chairman, if I may. Um, so and I think s- somebody asked the question about the third party. So the fees, if you're a small towing company, and you're required to report to this database, and you have to, you, you can't afford a third-party s- uh, company to do this work for... Even if you could, is there a limit as to how much do, is that gonna be part of the conversation today, the-

409. 0:58:44

     Sir, absolutely. Absolutely.

410. 0:58:45

     Okay.

411. 0:58:45

     We, we would, we would not move forward with anything that they were not comfortable with.

412. 0:58:48

     Okay.

413. 0:58:48

     And that this really, I mean, obviously we are the a- administers to a portion of this if this bill were to pass, and our only goal is to make sure that, you know, both sides of the party are happy between the rail companies and the towing companies and everybody else in between. Uh, but we'll definitely right after this be having a continuing discussion to make sure that everybody's where they wanna be with, with the potential outcome of that system.

414. 0:59:07

     Awesome. I look forward to the amended version in the morning. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

415. 0:59:12

     All right. I, I wanna thank everybody for coming today, being here. Good questions, good meeting. Uh, at this time, the meeting is adjourned. We will meet again at 8 o'clock in the morning, uh, right here. Uh, we'll pick this bill up in the morning. Hopefully everybody gets to a good place on this. And then House Bill 1267 will be on in the morning.