Readers criticize Gov. Rick Snyder's idea to raise vehicle registration fees, but are there better options?

Courtney Culey | By Courtney Culey | The Jackson Citizen Patriot
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on January 22, 2012 at 7:16 PM, updated January 23, 2012 at 10:25 AM
WEB-snyder.jpgGov. Rick Snyder
On Friday, our media partner, WLNS Channel 6, reported Gov. Rick Snyder wants to raise vehicle registration fees by 60 percent to pay for infrastructure improvements.

Some readers, like ladybanditta, wrote the increase is coming at a bad time:

"This is not going to help out, bad timing on this increase. My vehicle is a 1999 minivan and it is 111.00 to plate. So, how is this going to help rebuild infrastructure when people stop plating their vehicles because they can't afford it? If the money isn't there, it's not there. How about worrying about helping all the unemployed people get jobs before you start charging them money they don't have? "

Others, including iluvu2, believe the raise is unfair:
"The problem with these fees is that they are based on the original sales price of the car. People who have a car worth $200 should not be charged a fee based on an original $30,000 purchase price. It is patently unfair. When they originally changed from a weight based fee they phased it in based on the year of your car but now they could care less about being fair. Responding to calls for raising the fees on truckers: Michigan has to be competitive with other states or you will drive businesses out of here."

Others, like canuhearmenow, believe the burden should fall on Michigan's trucks:

"I do think the Gov has done some good things but this is not one of them. At least now everyone that buys fuel in Michigan is paying tax toward roads...this idea would put the burden square on the shoulders of Michigan drivers. I learned many years ago you let your cost causers be your cost payers..Start making the trucks that are damaging the roads pay...I think you can still ship by rail also"

Supports of the increased registration fees were hard to come by. Is there a better way to pay for road improvements than the governor's idea?