MINUTES OF THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION Sixty-eighth Session January 31, 1995 The Committee on Transportation was called to order at 1:15 p.m., on Tuesday, January 31, 1995, Chairman Thomas Batten presiding in Room 331 of the Legislative Building, Carson City, Nevada. Exhibit A is the Agenda. Exhibit B is the Attendance Roster. COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. Thomas Batten, Chairman Mrs. Vonne Chowning, Chairman Mr. Dennis L. Allard, Vice Chairman Mr. David Goldwater, Vice Chairman Mr. Bernie Anderson Mr. John C. Carpenter Mrs. Marcia de Braga Mr. Dennis Nolan Mrs. Genie Ohrenschall Mrs. Patricia A. Tripple COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT: None GUEST LEGISLATORS PRESENT: None STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: None OTHERS PRESENT: Bruce Glover, Chief, Drivers License Division, Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety; Eric Cooper, Nevada Sheriffs and Chiefs Association; Greg Harwell, CSAA; Laurel Stadler, MADD; and Susan Miller, R&R. Chairman Batten turned the chair over to Vice Chairman Allard. ASSEMBLY BILL 30 - Requires identification of certain vehicles not registered for use on highways. Eric Cooper, representing the Nevada Sheriffs and Chiefs Association, testified on A.B. 30 which would require owners of motorcycles, trimobiles, snowmobiles, dune buggies, and similar vehicles which are not registered for use on the highways, display identification decal issued by the DMV & PS. Mr. Cooper said the bill was drawn up by a former member of the association. At the association's meeting in January in Fallon it was decided that the bill be withdrawn, therefore he requested the bill be withdrawn. Assemblywoman Chowning mentioned that Assemblyman Carpenter had some constituents who have snowmobile issues. She asked the maker of the bill if he felt that would be better addressed in a separate bill, or delete the subject matter of A.B. 30 and address the snowmobile issue in a separate bill. Mr. Cooper replied the association would have no objection as long as they were not connected with the bill; that Mr. Carpenter was free to use the skeleton bill if he needed to. Mrs. Chowning mentioned there had been considerable opposition to the bill. It was agreed to withdraw A.B. 30 and generate a new bill. ASSEMBLYMAN NOLAN MOVED TO INDEFINITELY POSTPONE A.B. 30. MOTION WAS SECONDED AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. ASSEMBLY BILL 28 - Revises provisions relating to fee for endorsement to driver's license. Bruce Glover, Chief, Drivers License Division, DMV & PS, testified in favor of A.B. 28 which establishes a fee of $15 for endorsements to a driver's license. Currently the fee for a motorcycle endorsement is $5. That fee was set in 1971. Since that time tests have become more complex and require more time and equipment to administer. Mr. Glover provided the committee with statistical evidence of the efficacy of the tests in reducing incidence of motorcycle accidents; also information regarding ways in which additional revenues would be used. A motorcycle operator manual was supplied the committee members to show the kind of services provided to motorcycle riders (Exhibit C). There were three pages of statistics: the first, "State of Nevada Motorcycle Licenses" (Exhibit D) dealing with the number of motorcycle licenses on file with DMV, showing the number of licensed riders in Nevada. From 1987 to 1994 the number has been on a constant rise. The second page is titled "Motorcycle Fatal Accidents" by county and year (Exhibit E). Mr. Glover said this is significant at the present time. These figures were taken from statistics by accidents and by reports from Highway Patrol and all law enforcement agencies, compiled by the office of Traffic Safety in the Department of Motor Vehicles. The graph showed 26 accidents in 1988 and 14 in 1993 thereby showing a constant decrease in fatalities. Another figure showed driver endorsement status (Exhibit F), which Mr. Glover said did not mean very much but showed the number of drivers involved in fatal accidents. He believed the proper testing of drivers was important in this issue. He provided the regular Driver's Handbook (Exhibit G), pointing out the information on pages 46 and 47 in which it mentioned motorcyclists having the same rights and responsibilities as other drivers. There are special situations and conditions all drivers need to be aware of so they can safely share the road. Mr. Glover reported they are currently licensing 3,000 drivers a year. At their current cost, they are suffering somewhat. The last sheet is a schedule of fees. (Exhibit H). He listed some of their current fee structures from 1983 to 1993. For example, motorcycle endorsements in 1983 were $4. Today they are $5. And DMV is asking to go to $15 to cover costs. Comparing fee increases with other licenses, he explained in 1983 they charged persons over 70, $5 for a license; today they are charging $15. Any other original license was $10; today it is $20.50. Reinstatement of license was $15 ten years ago; now it is $40 for non- DUI related offenses and $65 for DUI-related offenses. A duplicate licensing fee was $3, now it is $15. Mr. Glover further explained these are costs that were just put in because of the amount of work it takes to process and to maintain a drivers license record file. He said these figures were to show motorcycle increase has gone out of hand. He announced another one of their bills is presently in the Senate. The bill asks DMV to honor the 16-hour course given by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation instead of a drive test. He expressed the desire to amend it to "any motorcycle endorsement which requires a skills test." They would charge $15. In that way they are adjusting for the energy expended. Mrs. Chowning inquired when the manual was first printed. Mr. Glover replied it was around 1981-82. He said the motorcycle foundation developed the manual for DMV. Mrs. Chowning further asked when the manual was revised, and he replied it was revised every legislative session. DMV printed 25,000 copies. Even if they only licensed 4 to 5,000 motorcycle riders a year, they go through 25,000 copies a year and they cost 32 cents each. Mrs. Chowning then inquired if drivers of mopeds are required to be licensed. Mr. Glover said they do require moped drivers to have a license. He explained a regular driver's license can be used to drive a moped. There is no endorsement to a regular license. A moped license is an original license and they pay $20.50 for it. Mr. Batten queried: if the fee structures were not increased, could they still maintain the current level of conducting the driver's tests and also issuing operator's licenses. Mr. Glover said they could. Mr. Batten then inquired if this fee increase is for the purpose of the knowledge test, the skills test, or is it for staff and equipment? Mr. Glover explained there are hard and soft costs. For example, one cannot take into account just the extra pages that are added. There is micro filming of the documents that is required to maintain the motorcycle program, there is the data entry, also the development of the motorcycle program -- there are lots of things going into it. Basically, based on an examiner that administers the motorcycle skills test by an above mid-range of their senior staff, the average salary for such an individual is about $13 per hour. That is just for the one who administers the test. It does not include set up time, take down time, and all the other work that goes with the program. Mr. Batten wanted to know whether the increase in fees would reduce the long lines. Mr. Glover replied he hoped it would. Mr. Batten wondered whether the increase in fees would be worth it. In Mr. Glover's opinion, each section of the Drivers License Division would even out because at present the motorcycle riders are not carrying their share of the program. Assemblyman Anderson needed clarification and he gave as an example: if he were standing in line to get his driver's license and the person in front of him, Mr. Nolan, is also waiting to get his motorcycle license, the time factor for Mr. Nolan to get his motorcycle license would be slightly longer because of the nature of his test, would it be fair. Mr. Glover said most people who have a valid license from another state or renewing their license are not required to take the test. Almost all motorcycle drivers are required to take the motorcycle skills test, which takes about half an hour. After further discussion and clarification of the issue, it was decided to close the hearing on the bill. ASSEMBLYMAN GOLDWATER MOVED THE HEARING ON A.B. 28 BE CLOSED. MOTION WAS SECONDED AND CARRIED. MR. BATTEN VOTED NO. Mr. Anderson requested a short recess. After the recess Mr. Allard announced the hearing on A.B. 28 be closed to give Mr. Glover more time to prepare further information for the next work session. The next item of business was to adopt the Standing Rules. Mr. Allard inquired if there were any questions on the rules as presented. Mrs. Chowning stated the only change was the insertion of Item 11, which addressed the duties of the vice chairman which the committee agreed upon previously. ASSEMBLYWOMAN CHOWNING MOVED TO ACCEPT THE STANDING RULES AS PRESENTED. MOTION WAS SECONDED BY ASSEMBLYMAN OHRENSCHALL. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. ASSEMBLY BILL 29 - Establishes fee for endorsement added after issuance of original commercial driver's license for which driving skills test is required. Bruce Glover, Chief, Drivers License Division, DMV & PS, testified on A.B. 29 which establishes a fee of $30 for each endorsement added to a commercial driver's license if the endorsement requires that DMV & PS administer a driving skills test. If no test is necessary, the fee would remain at the current level of $14. He mentioned he discussed this bill with Daryl Capurro, Nevada Motor Transport Association, who had testified earlier, in support of this bill. Mr. Glover explained if a commercial driver comes in for the first time and takes a barrage of tests, including the skills test, it costs $84. If they come in and get a commercial driver's license with just the written test, and have a valid license or certified by a company, he would not be required to take the skills test, it is $50 -- a $30 difference. He said Mr. Capurro did not have objections to the truckers paying additional money if they were receiving services for highway safety. Explaining further the need for the higher fees, Mr. Glover said with commercial drivers license new to them, for all endorsements, it would be $15 for commercial drivers license, not taking into consideration that some persons would have to take skills test. To issue the written test, $15 covers their fees, but there are 34,000 licensed commercial drivers, and of those each year, many come back and get a "passenger endorsement" (Exhibit I). The only one required to take a skills test is a passenger license. ASSEMBLYMAN TRIPPLE MOVED DO PASS A.B. 29. MOTION WAS SECONDED AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. ASSEMBLY BILL 70 - Revises requirements relating to eye examinations for renewal of drivers' licenses. Bruce Glover, Chief of Drivers License Division, DMV & PS, said A.B. 70 was proposed by the Drivers License Division to allow DMV to renew licenses by mail. He was unaware at the time he submitted the bill that Assemblyman Braunlin also submitted a similar bill. After discussion with Ms. Braunlin, he decided her bill was very clean, and with a few amendments what DMV would like to do is wait for Ms. Braunlin's bill to come out, whereby DMV would support that bill. After some discussion by the committee on how to handle A.B. 70, it was decided to postpone indefinitely. Mrs. Chowning made clear to Mr. Glover the committee's intention, and Mr. Glover agreed that he understood it, and would have no objections to indefinitely postpone the bill. DMV will then consider Ms. Braunlin's bill when it comes out. ASSEMBLYMAN BATTEN MOVED TO INDEFINITELY POSTPONE A.B. 70. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:20 p.m. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED: _________________________ Sylvia Mays, Committee Secretary APPROVED BY: _______________________________________ Assemblyman Thomas Batten, Chairman _______________________________________ Assemblyman Vonne Chowning, Chairman Assembly Committee on Transportation January 31, 1995 Page