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Fees also will be raised for noncommercial farm trucks, motorhomes, travel trailers and motorcycles.

The measure also reduces the number of vehicles that get a 30 percent discount on registration fees. The discount now goes to vehicles that are at least 5 years old, which is about 82 percent of all cars and trucks on the road. Only vehicles at least 10 years old, or about half those on the road, would be eligible for the discount.

“As our economy emerges from a serious worldwide recession, we cannot afford to increase taxes and put additional costs on businesses and families,” Daugaard said in his veto message.

South Dakota needs to consider a long-term solution for paying for roads, bridges and other infrastructure, but not without more information about federal transportation money, Daugaard said. He said the state can’t properly evaluate the needs until Congress reauthorizes the federal highway bill.

Supporters said South Dakota’s license plate fees are among the nation’s lowest.

“This has got to be the easiest bill in the Legislature,” said Rep. Gene Abdallah, R-Sioux Falls.

Assistant House Majority Leader Justin Cronin, R-Gettysburg, argued that many drivers would spend more on gas than they would on annual registration, even with the hike.

“This is not something that people cannot afford,” Cronin said.

Rep. Stace Nelson, R-Fulton, argued against the measure. He said lawmakers should let local governments decide on fee increases rather than enacting a statewide measure. Nelson also said he found it “very disconcerting” that other Republicans would support a fee increase.

But Sen. Mike Vehle, R-Mitchell, a longtime advocate for raising fees to help local roads, called on lawmakers to finish the bill.

“The need for this has not changed since your last vote,” he said.

Article source: http://feeds.stateline.org/~r/StatelineorgRss-Transportation/~3/56_JUoyXek0/Vehicle-registration-fees-jump-51-most