The court ruled Thursday morning that I-976, the Tim Eyman-sponsored initiative that would cap car tab … We recognize that our decisions, how we reach them, and how people are treated when they come to court, matters. Coverage Area, Support Us For the third time in state history, a measure promising to cut car-tab taxes to $30 a year has been blocked by Washington state courts. “We had committed legal partners throughout this effort, and I’d like to thank Assistant City Attorneys Carolyn Boies and Erica Franklin for their endless hours and creative thinking.”, “Seattle was the fastest growing city of the last decade,” said Seattle Department of Transportation Director Sam Zimbabwe. src += '&cid=1'; The decision means state and local car-tab taxes can remain at their current levels. - The state Supreme Court has struck down the voter-approved $30 car tab initiative. Public Inspection Files, About Us img.src = src; }); Northwest Public Broadcasting The initiative passed anyway, winning 53% of the vote in November 2019. “With that has come many challenges and opportunities on our path to building a more livable, inclusive, and accessible city. Thursday’s court ruling will give state legislators a bit of a reprieve next year. We will continue to collect all current vehicle fees and taxes. CREDIT: Austin Jenkins/N3. Justices Strike Down Eyman's $30 Car Tab Initiative The Washington Supreme Court has unanimously struck down Tim Eyman's Initiative 976, a measure … — Mayor Jenny Durkan (@MayorJenny) October 15, 2020. Welcome to the new digital home of Northwest Public Radio and Northwest Public Television. Despite voters expressing support for lower car tabs by passing Initiative 976 last fall, and despite offering economic relief elsewhere, Governor Inslee has chosen not to issue a proclamation that would allow a grace period or delayed payments of car tabs. Vehicles with tabs overdue by more than two months can cost up to $228 and be impounded by law enforcement. The state Legislature and Democratic Gov. It also would implement a laundry list of tax and fee reductions, including: In addition to the city of Seattle and King County, plaintiffs include the Garfield County Transportation Authority, Washington State Transit Association, Association of Washington Cities, the Port of Seattle, Intercity Transit, Amalgamated Transit Union Legislative Council of Washington, and Michael Rogers, an individual with cerebral palsy in Lacey. Even before the pandemic and economic crisis, Seattle’s transportation budget was unnecessarily decimated by I-976 last year and our residents and businesses have felt the real impacts of cuts. Mr. Eyman has never sponsored an initiative that’s withstood legal challenge, so today’s decision shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. On Thursday, the state Supreme Court struck down Initiative 976, a measure Washington voters approved last November to … var src = 'https://www.google-analytics.com/collect?v=1'; What the Washington Supreme Court ruling on $30 car tabs means for Spokane State estimates say I-976 would have cut more than $4 billion in tax revenue by … Estate Planning A car registration tab is shown on a vehicle parked at the Capitol, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020, in Olympia, Wash. On Thursday, the state Supreme Court … It was found to be unconstitutional for violating the single subject rule and inaccurate ballot title. Just before the full decision was released, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan tweeted: Justice for Seattle voters prevailed in today's Supreme Court ruling on I-976. The measure has been on hold for nearly a year as legal challenges worked their way through the court system. As the highest court in the State of Washington, the mission of our court is to uphold the constitution and when called upon through cases, interpret laws passed by the legislature and enforced by the executive branches of government. Puget Sound voters approved that transit expansion, and the increased fees, in 2016. The Supreme Court ruling is the end of the road for I-976, which was the brainchild of anti-tax activist Tim Eyman. In Washington, a vehicle with expired registration can carry a standard fine of $136 in addition to delinquent tab fees. “That’s why I authored a bill to enact $30 car tabs earlier this year. Internships File photo. Plaintiffs in the lawsuit against it have argued that the initiative used “seemingly popular provisions to gain passage of unpopular ones” and mislead voters on the true nature and impact. OLYMPIA, Wash — The Washington state Supreme Court ruled Thursday an initiative approved by voters nearly a year ago that would cap car-tab fees is … The fate of $30 car tabs in Washington will be decided by the state Supreme Court. Seven Washington drivers filed a lawsuit against Sound Transit over car tab fees. The Washington State Supreme Court has issued a ruling striking down Tim Eyman’s Initiative 976 for $30 car tabs across the state. The court … Earlier this year, legislators addressed the immediate problem mostly with one-time fixes, such as transferring money between accounts, rather than making deep cuts. By. September 10, 2019 at 11:19 am (KIRO 7 TV) The battle over high car tabs that came with the $54 billion light rail expansion in the Seattle area — known as … Business Support & Community Sponsor, Editorial Policy | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use. The court rightly recognized that a clearly inaccurate initiative title and logrolling subjects is unlawful,” Holmes said. Jay Inslee suspended some projects and shuffled budgets as if the tax reduction will take effect, but the court has yet to rule, The Seattle Times reported . src += '&dt=' + encodeURIComponent('WA Supreme Court rules $30 car tab initiative is unconstitutional'); Jobs They also allege that it violated a rule stating that local matters should be decided locally, rather than on statewide ballot measures. Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson released the following statement on Washington State Supreme Court’s decision to strike down $30 car tabs: “I’m proud of my legal team, who worked long hours to defend the will of the voters, arguing successfully at the … Washington's $30 car tabs on hold as judge slaps injunction on I-976. Watch Online Eyman had previously proposed two other measures to cut car-tab fees, each of which was similarly thrown out or partially blocked by the courts. Public Documents With the debate over pricey car tabs in Washington continuing to rage, that dispute will soon make its way before the state's Supreme Court. All rights reserved. Thanks for visiting www.nwpb.org. Thank you for your continued support of public broadcasting in our region. Vehicle owners pay a … Many Washington residents, including those who are now out of work, are still required to pay car tabs upwards of $600. Visit crosscut.com/donate to support nonprofit, freely distributed, local journalism. The Washington Supreme Court unanimously struck down Tim Eyman's Initiative 976 in a ruling issued Thursday. I-976 would have wiped out those local taxes, reducing local transportation spending by about $60 million per year. More specifically, they cite a violation of  “single subject” rules. — A Washington state Supreme Court ruling could mean refunds for car owners in King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties. Learn more from our I-976 Fact Sheet. I-976 was approved in November 2019, with 53% of voters in favor of the measure. Local officials, too, are  breathing a sigh of relief after Thursday’s ruling. One of Eyman’s main targets with the initiative was Sound Transit, which is building a regional light rail network paid for in part by higher car-tab fees. “Cruelly, it arrived as a global pandemic set in and placed further out of reach essential transit services when those traveling to reach front-line jobs, school, and other essential services needed it most. At left, former Spokane city councilman Mike Fagan. On Thursday, the state Supreme Court struck down Initiative 976, a measure Washington voters approved last November to reduce the cost of annual vehicle licensing fees. The Supreme Court of the State of Washington struck down the voter-approved $30 car tab initiative Thursday morning, stating it is unconstitutional. the state Supreme Court struck down Initiative 976, lose a total of about $4.2 billion in revenue for transportation and transit projects, What Is The Sound Of Grief? Don't expect your license tabs to go down to $30 any time soon. Please whitelist www.nwpb.org to ensure that you are receiving the fully uncompromised interactive experience. If your current tabs expired less than 12 months ago, we'll give you a new full year registration period. Before taking more drastic action, they wanted to wait for the court’s ruling on whether or not the initiative was valid. Washington Supreme Court. This sustains the local resources needed to investment in asset maintenance and leaves local funding options in place that allows Seattle voters to choose how they want to invest in our vital transportation and transit system.”, Seattle City Council President Lorena González says the ruling is a win for Seattle voters, who “know the importance of investing in and growing our transit systems.”, “Today’s Washington State Supreme Court ruling that Initiative 976 is unconstitutional, is a win for Seattle voters, who in 2019 overwhelmingly voted to reject Tim Eyman’s I-976,” she said. If you're stationed outside of Washington when your tabs expire, you may be able to get a new expiration date. I-976, the $30 car tab measure approved by voters in 2019 has been struck down by the Washington State Supreme Court. Leadership Circle Today’s decision to overturn I-976 is an incredible victory for the 76 percent of Seattle voters who rejected this initiative last November, and for everyone who wishes to build a more inclusive city focused on correcting our historic shortcomings. Supreme Court justices announced Wednesday they will hear arguments on … document.body.appendChild(img); For I-976, reducing car tabs to $30 was just one of a handful of measures the legislation called for. src += '&t=pageview'; Most of that money would have come from transit and nonroad projects. “Everyone benefits from our transportation and transit infrastructure, which heavily relies on Vehicle License Fee revenue that will be preserved due to this court ruling.”, Washington State Supreme Court strikes down $30 car tabs, I-976 was struck down by the state Supreme Court. — The Washington state Supreme Court heard arguments about whether a voter-approved car-tab tax cut was legal or if its ballot title misled voters. State Sen. Steve O’Ban, R-Tacoma, condemned the court’s Thursday ruling as a blow to the will of his constituents. SEATTLE (AP) — The Washington state Supreme Court heard arguments about whether a voter-approved car-tab tax cut was legal or if its ballot title misled voters. I-976 fallout: Inslee postpones all upcoming WSDOT projects. To find out what your specific fees will be, visit a vehicle licensing office location. I am deeply disappointed that the court ignored taxpayers, rejected the holding of the lower court, and struck down the voter approved I-976.”. Pledge Today I-976 ($30 car tab) ruled unconstitutional. window.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', (event) => { — The Washington State Supreme Court will hear the $30 car tabs case. Get an estimate. The state Supreme Court heard oral arguments for the case on June 30, with Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson tasked with defending I-976. Listen Online The new year brings an internal change to our organization, joining TV and radio. 'Snow looks likely' as soon as Sunday in Puget Sound region, Rantz: Councilmember Gonzalez renews push to fire white Seattle police officers, COVID, Dem co-sponsor give latest bid to expand gambling in WA new life, Sign up to receive the Most Popular email, Repealing of a state statute that allows the imposition of a vehicle fee for a Transportation Benefit District, Repealing of the local option motor vehicle excise tax for passenger-only ferry service. Download KWSU Schedule Vehicle Donation Who We Are For the third time in state history, a measure promising to cut car-tab taxes to $30 a year has been blocked by Washington state courts. The Washington State Supreme Court has struck down the initiative voters passed last year that sought to reduce the cost of car tabs. The Washington Supreme Court has unanimously struck down Eyman's Initiative 976, a measure that would have steeply discounted the price of car registrations while gutting transportation budgets across the state. Together, we’re NWPB. About 60 cities and counties charge their own local car-tab fees to pay for road projects and other transportation needs. Most car-tab charges in Washington are flat fees. My constituents don’t believe light rail will benefit them, just Seattle. Those exist to prevent a practice known as “log-rolling,” which occurs when an initiative combines multiple topics that are not necessarily related to each other. “Pierce County and the voters in my district voted overwhelmingly for I-976,” Senator Steve O’Ban said in a news release. A robust and reliable public transportation system available to all is foundational to that vision of a thriving, growing Seattle, and we still have a long ways to go.”, “The passage of I-976 was a dangerous derailment to our shared efforts to create a more equitable transportation system,” Zimbabwe added. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren). var img = document.createElement('img'); The Washington State Supreme Court ruled that tax goblin Tim Eyman's I-976 measure, which passed with 53% of the vote last year, is unconstitutional. Now, as they grapple with the economic fallout from a global pandemic, high unemployment and the closure of businesses, I-976 is one less thing they have to worry about. On October 15, 2020 the Washington State Supreme Court ruled I-976 unconstitutional. Professional initiative sponsor Tim Eyman, right, who ran for governor in 2020 as a Republican but didn’t make it past the primary, holds a photo from his first successful $30 car tabs initiative in 1999 earlier this year. “We knew this initiative had some fairly obvious legal problems from the outset. Ted S. Warren / The Associated Press (file) A ballot measure to lower car tab fees and some other taxes for vehicles is unconstitutional, the state Supreme Court said today. Washington state Supreme Court justices will decide whether a measure to cap car tab fees at $30 is unconstitutional. I-976 was projected to reduce the state transportation budget by about $650 million through 2023. src += '&dl=' + encodeURIComponent('https://crosscut.com/news/2020/10/wa-supreme-court-rules-30-car-tab-initiative-unconstitutional'); src += '&dr=' + encodeURIComponent(window.location.href); OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Tim Eyman's I-976 initiative that would have reduced car tab fees to $30 has been ruled unconstitutional by the State Supreme Court. © 2021 Bonneville International. For the third time in state history, a measure promising to cut car-tab taxes to $30 a year has been blocked by Washington state courts. Tim Eyman, sponsor of the initiative, and Rep. Jim Walsh said they’ll be at the steps of the state Supreme Court in Olympia at 11:30 a.m. Thursday with their reaction to the decision. Eight of the court’s nine justices also said the initiative had a misleading title, striking it down on that basis as well. Your support matters. State officials had estimated I-976 would cause state and local governments to lose a total of about $4.2 billion in revenue for transportation and transit projects over the next six years. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) I-976, the $30 car tab measure approved by voters in 2019 has been struck down by the Washington State Supreme Court. Download KTNW Schedule Those challenging the legality of the proposal are also chiming in with their reactions after the decision, including Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes. Contact Information src += '&tid=UA-1197400-7'; It looks like you might have an Ad Blocker enabled. Composer Osvaldo Golijov Puts It To Music, Census Director To Quit After Trying To Rush Out ‘Indefensible’ Report, For Many Areas, Count Of Homeless Population Is Canceled, Or Delayed, Washington Will Use National Guard, Partners With Microsoft, Costco, More To Boost Vaccine Delivery, 3 Questions And The Emerging Answers About COVID-19 Vaccine Protection, NASA’s 8-Minute Rocket Test Shuts Down After 67 Seconds. Justice matters. In a unanimous ruling, the state’s high court said the measure was unconstitutional because it combined more than one subject in one initiative — which the state constitution forbids. The Washington Supreme Court struck down Initiative 976 to reduce car-tab taxes, nearly a year after statewide voters approved the tax-cutting measure. Counties charge their own local car-tab fees to pay car tabs on hold as judge injunction. Court said today 30 was just one of a handful of measures the called... 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