Ok an update on things, seems we kicked over a hornets nest of sorts.
We got an agreement with the SoS. But then IDOT came in and was all upset, talking about this being a diversion of road fund money as they would not be getting the $$$ from the full price of plates.
They estimated that if 1000 trucks did not pay the $2950 for a semi-tractor plate, they would loose $1 million annually.
Now we can all say bull**** to the numbers that they came up with, but if they start screaming Road Fund diversions, the contractors, unions and others will come down and this things goes nipples up in a hurry.
Senator Jacobs was good at arranging a meeting with IDOT to which they brought pictures of a PLS with trailer unit and a gross weight of over 88,000.
After a while of haggeling, they asked for two additional plate catigories and fees.
The agreement we came to is 4 plate catogories for trucks.
under 26,000 $100
26,001 - 45,000 $150
45,001 - 65,000 $500
65,000 and over $1000
This means that if you have a 915, you will save $1950 on a plate. the first two catagories take about 90% of the hobby in to account. If you have a duece, you will save $177 a year. If you have a 900 series 5 ton, you'll save $813 a year.
These fees are also cheaper than a milage plate on a semi by I think about $700.
They didn't mess with the trailer plates at all.
And we didn't get any restrictions on useage. So you could make one a daily driver and not be out of the plate.
Not where I had hoped to be, but it's still a fair deal over all.
We go to committee next week for our hearing and what I think will come out as an agreed bill with no opposition. The truckers assn are all on board, and with IDOT and SOS ok with the bill it should fly.
We'll know more next week.