WABA supports HB 28, which would establish higher registration fees for heavy passenger vehicles, Class E trucks, and Class M multipurpose vehicles.
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HB 28: Passenger, Truck, and Multipurpose Vehicles - Annual Registration Fees (Pedestrian Fatality Prevention Act of 2024)
House Environment and Transportation Committee
Washington Area Bicyclist Association – FAVORABLE
February 1, 2024
Chair Korman and Committee Members,
The Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) supports HB 28, which would establish higher registration fees for heavy passenger vehicles, Class E trucks, and Class M multipurpose vehicles.
Heavy vehicles are particularly dangerous for vulnerable road users – pedestrians and bicyclists – both because of their weight and visibility limitations associated with vehicle size, compared with lighter passenger and other vehicles addressed by HB 28.
These vehicles require more resources to build and operate, both materials and fuel/electricity. They create excessive emissions including toxic tire particulates that pollute our air and water, and they impose greater wear-and-tear on roads. They are environmentally costly.
It is therefore entirely appropriate to take steps to discourage the adoption of heavy passenger and other vehicles addressed by HB 28, and to collect higher registration fees, which may be applied to mitigate the outsized safety cost and environmental damage created by these vehicles or for other beneficial purposes.
The Washington Area Bicyclist Association urges a Favorable HB 28 committee report and House floor vote.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify on this legislation.
Seth Grimes, WABA Maryland organizer
seth.grimes@waba.org