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STATE REP. EXPLAINS BUGGY BILL
Tuesday, January 8th, 2008 -- 11:40 am
Posted by Riley Hebert-News Director
Many area people are interested in a legislative proposal that would allow local municipalities to require the Amish and others to register their horse-drawn vehicles.
"In our area, these folks are using steel wheels and carbide cleats on the horseshoes," Rep. Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan) explained Thursday morning on In Depth. "We were looking for a vehicle to help provide some funding for those types of issues. It is an extra impact on the roadways."
Roads are largely funded by fuel taxes and registration fees, as well as local tax levies.
Ballweg's bill would leave it up to the counties or municipalities to require registration, collect the money and administer the system.
In order to enforce the requirement, local governments may need to require license plates for buggies.
"It would be up to up to each individual entity to decide how they would want to register the vehicles and what registration system they would use," Ballweg says.
The bill is modeled after similar systems in Indiana and Illinois. Ohio has a different system.
"(Ohio) has not gone to a registration system, but they've gone to a voluntary payment system," according to Ballweg. "People that have animal-drawn vehicles can make voluntary contributions to the Ohio Department of Transportation for use exclusively with highway maintenance."
"There are three other states that are doing something regarding registration or contributions to maintenance of highways for animal-drawn vehicles."
Ballweg continues to look for co-sponsors and expects the measure will receive a public hearing in the Assembly Transportation Committee.
She encourages residents to voice their opinions to their local representatives.
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