Assemblyman urges constituents to collect refunds

Paul Clinton

NEWPORT-MESA -- As an FYI to his district, Assemblyman John Campbell

(R-Irvine) sent out an open letter reminding eligible drivers to apply

for “smog impact” fee refunds.

Campbell, in the July 27 letter, said he supports “the timely refund

of the illegally-collected Smog Impact Fee.”

The state collected the $300 fee on out-of-state cars and trucks that

were registered between 1990 and 1999. A state appeals court ruled in

1999 that the fees were unconstitutional because they interfered with

interstate commerce.

In June 2000, Gov. Gray Davis signed a bill granting refund checks to

those who were forced to pay the fees. The checks average $400 when

interest is added.

The state estimated, at the time, it would pay out $665 million to

motorists.

Although the fees were widely covered in the media as they wound

through courts, Campbell said he sent the letter just to get the word

out.

“We don’t know if people heard about it,” Campbell said. “People don’t

focus as much on state issues.”

Campbell mailed 200 letters, which reached his entire district,

including Costa Mesa and Newport Beach.

Campbell has a firsthand experience with the fees. As the owner of the

county’s only Saab dealership in Santa Ana, Campbell passed on this fee

to those who bought out-of-state cars from his dealership.

About 10% to 15% of the cars he sold during that period would qualify,

Campbell said.

The automobiles that are eligible are 1975 or newer gasoline-powered

cars, 1980 or newer diesel-powered cars and commercial vehicles weighing

less than 6,000 pounds.

FYI

For more information about the smog impact fee refunds, call

Assemblyman John Campbell’s district office at (949) 863-7070.