On Tuesday, State Rep. Tim Ackert (R-Coventry) testified before the General Assembly’s Transportation Committee to support his proposal to streamline the process for motor vehicle registration renewal and motor vehicle emissions testing by requiring the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to mail each registered motor vehicle owner's motor vehicle registration renewal application and notice of emissions testing requirements in a single envelope.
Ackert represents part of Vernon.
During the Transportation Committee’s public hearing, Rep. Ackert demonstrated his support for House Bill 5447 AN ACT CONCERNING THE MAILING OF MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION RENEWAL APPLICATIONS AND NOTICES OF EMISSIONS TESTING REQUIREMENTS stating the bill will save money for the state and will have a positive impact on Connecticut drivers.
During his testimony, Rep. Ackert explained that having these two requirements mailed separately places unnecessary costs on both the state and its citizens.
“First, the cost to send approximately 1.4 million emission notifications to owners with vehicles registered in the state a year is expensive in itself,” said Rep. Ackert. “This postcard is similar in size to much of the mail that gets discarded as unwanted mail. The same vehicle owners are also mailed a registration renewal, and the cost of this mailing is $0.14 per envelope. Every two years, the majority of vehicle owners have to bring their vehicles to an approved emission test facility to have it tested. If the vehicle is not tested in the allotted time frame there is a twenty dollar late fee imposed on the owner and they cannot reregister their vehicle until they have passed emissions or received an emissions waiver.”
Rep. Ackert also explained that his proposal will also prevent Connecticut drivers from getting charged with unwanted late fees.
“Since the state has gone to the new postcard notice, there has been a noted saving to the state of approximately $400,000 in mailings,” said Rep. Ackert. “The transition to the new postcard over letter mailings took place a few years ago. Coincidently, the fines rose drastically with this new mailing procedure. There was a time we had to look at an emissions sticker on our front window to remind of our emissions was due.”
“It is apparent to me that we have a notification problem. I believe we can fix that problem and save money by mailing the emissions notification with the registration renewal. The owner of the vehicle will know they have to complete the emissions test before renewing their registration. This process will save the state time and money and the vehicle owner an unwanted late fee,” said Rep. Ackert.
The bill now awaits favorable approval by the Transportation Committee.
