Proposed Annual Fee To Fix Roads Upsets California Drivers

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A plan in the California Assembly to charge drivers for using the roads is drawing criticism from some drivers.

Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins says California motorists need to pay more to repair the state's pothole-plagued highways, byways and bridges. She says the gas tax isn't enough.

"It's the Assembly's ambitious proposal to generate $10 billion in transportation funding over the next five years," she said.

She calls the proposed new revenue the road-user charge. The proposed $52 annual fee could increase state transportation funding for repairs by $800 million a year.

Some drivers questioned the fee.

"I'm already running pretty broke on what I have," said Bray Hardwood.

And then there are some drivers who believe the road-user charge will actually put more money in their pocket.

"It does wear on your tires and it does accumulate over time and we have to pay for that," said Brittany Elizondo.

The Sacramento County Republican party says lawmakers should have seen the dilemma coming decades ago.

"Instead of taking steps to accommodate that growth we tell people to do with less," said spokesman Doug Haaland.

With 33 million drivers on the road right now, Atkins believes the proposed user charge will make a smoother ride for the next generation of drivers.

"It does mean having the road, streets and bridges handle the 44 to 48-million Californians we're expected to have by 2015," she said.