AB 172 introduced by east San Diego’s own Randy Voepel would raise the maximum speed limit of cars and trucks pulling trailers to 65 MPH. We feel that slower vehicles on an otherwise fast freeway can cause more safety problems than they solve. It certainly wouldn’t hurt to get to the desert a little quicker.

AB 867 would require the DMV to accept credit cards as payment for any fees at all of its field offices. The bill would also require the department to allow annual vehicle registration fees to be paid in monthly, bimonthly, or semiannual installment payments. It’s hard to believe we need a legislative bill to direct the DMV to accept credit cards.

Speaking of the DMV, AB 1101 would direct the DMV to establish procedures that ensure a person who is requesting services relating to registration of vessels or vehicles, or who is applying for an original or renewal of a driver’s license or identification card, will not be required under normal circumstances to wait in any one line for service longer than one-half hour. I personally love this bill and expect to support it all year.

AB 209 would have state parks create a grant program that would provide funding to underserved and at-risk populations to participate in outdoor activities. This could help a program called National Youth Program Using Minibikes (NYPUM).

AB 1067 would require the Director of Parks and Recreation, no later than January 1, 2023, to develop and implement a wildfire management plan for state parks, including State Vehicular Recreation Areas. We don’t want our areas to burn up (think Hungry Valley, Carnegie and Hollister Hills).

SB 402 would continue to fund an ongoing project in the Inyo National Forest to link routes between BLM and forest land.

AB 210 would move the manufacture date of vehicles exempt from smog tests from 1976 to 1982.

SB 767 is very similar to the bill from last year that would have the state sell off the expansion land at Carnegie SVRA. This bill will be a harder fight than last year because of more coauthors and removal of the term “sell for less than market value.”