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Craig — Due to residents' questions about upcoming vehicle registration fee increases, Elaine Sullivan, Moffat County clerk and recorder, wants to make some clarifications.

"As of July 1, 2009, (vehicle) registration fees and late fees will be noticeably higher," she said. "Senate Bill 09-108 was signed into law on March 2 and is the largest fee increase for registrations in many years."

The additional fees are split between two new state funds, the road safety surcharge and the bridge safety surcharge.

Road safety fees are based on the weight of your vehicle, which can be found under the "CWT" section on state registration forms. Multiply that number by 100 and that is the actual weight of your vehicle.

The average car weight is between 2001 and 5000 pounds. Registrations for vehicles of that size will increase $32.

Motorcycle registrations and those for vehicles lighter than 2001 pounds will increase $22.50.

The average pickup registration, for vehicles between 2001 and 10,000 pounds, will increase by $39.50, and larger trucks more than 10,000 pounds will increase from $51.50 to $55.00.

Utility and camper trailers also will be subject to fee increases.

The bridge safety surcharge will be phased in throughout three years, with fee increases continuing through 2012.

Registering an average car will cost an extra $32 from July 1, 2009, to June 30, 2010; $36.50 from July 1, 2010, to June 30, 2011; and $41.00 after then.

Other vehicle types will face same similar increases.

The bill also orders a mandatory fine for late renewals.

The fee will be $25 a month for every month past the existing 30-day grace period on renewal and registration notices, up to a maximum of $100.

All additional fees will be added to existing registration renewal fees.

Sullivan recommended all residents evaluate the registrations on their vehicles and trailers and renew any that have expired before the additional fees take effect.

"Vehicle owners may want to consider selling or disposing of vehicles that are infrequently used, no longer used, or often left with expired registrations," Sullivan said.

She added that residents cannot renew a registration under the current fee schedule if it expires after the additional fees take effect.

Although additional funding for state roads has been needed for some time, Sullivan said, the bill faced significant opposition in the Legislature before it passed.

Residents may view the bill's vote history by accessing the Legislature's Web site at www.leg.state.co.us and referencing the journals for the Senate and House. The bill passed in the House on Feb. 25 and the Senate on Feb. 27.

Clerk's Office officials said they have not received any official interpretation from the state on implementing the fee increases, but they will continue to update the local community.

For more information, call the Clerk's Office at 824-9104, or the Department of Revenue Registration Section at 303-205-5607.