7/19/10-Gov. Bobby Jindal signed into law a bill that will allow voters in the Baton Rouge, LA, area this fall to decide whether they want to help fund local mass transit through higher vehicle inspection fees.
HB1470 allows parish governmental bodies to ask voters for a $7 increase on inspections.
The fall ballots in East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge and Iberville parishes will include questions about increasing inspection fees by 39 percent to benefit mass transportation needs.
The added fee would bring inspections up to $25. The parishes are in an ozone non-attainment area and already charge vehicle owners $18, which is $8 more than other areas.
Vehicle owners living in parishes with the $25 fee would be prohibited from getting inspections in parishes not charging the extra fee.
Funds generated in East Baton Rouge would be split evenly between the Capital Area Transit System and the parish government for development of mass transit systems. Elsewhere, the money would be used solely for transit development.
The questions are slated to be included on either the Oct. 2 or Nov. 2 ballots.