Constitutional Amendment Restricting the Use of Vehicle Fees and Taxes for Highway Purposes

Summary

This Act states that all fees collected by the State as license fees for motor vehicles and all excise taxes collected by the State on the sale, distribution or use of motor vehicle fuel, and any another motor vehicle related tax or fee shall be paid into the state treasury and placed in a special fund to be used exclusively for highway purposes. All too often, revenue intended for the maintenance of the highway system are diverted to pet projects and the subsequent degradation of the highways system is used as justification for higher moto vehicle fuel taxes and license fees.

Constitutional Amendment Restricting the Use of Vehicle Fees and Taxes for Highway Purposes

NEW SECTION: All fees collected by the State of {insert state} as license fees for motor vehicles and all excise taxes collected by the State of {insert state} on the sale, distribution or use of motor vehicle fuel, and any another motor vehicle related tax or fee shall be paid into the state treasury and placed in a special fund to be used exclusively for highway purposes. Such highway purposes shall be construed to include the following:

(A) The necessary operating, engineering and legal expenses connected with the administration of public highways, county roads and city streets;

(B) The construction, reconstruction, maintenance, repair, and betterment of public highways, county roads, bridges and city streets; including the cost and expense of

(1) acquisition of rights-of-way,

(2) installing, maintaining and operating traffic signs and signal lights,

(3) operation of movable span bridges,

(4) operation of motor vehicle carrying ferries, which are a part of any public highway, county road, or city street; and

(C) The payment or refunding of any obligation of the State of {insert state}, or any political subdivision thereof, for which any of the revenues described in this section may have been legally pledged prior to the effective date of this act.

Section 2 {Severability clause.}

Section 3 {Repealer clause.}