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THE COAST NEWS
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VOL. 35, N0. 36
SAN Oversize autos MARCOS -NEWS need overnight parking permit
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O’side approves another medical cannabis biz. A3 Carlsbad leaders discuss reclassifying clerk job. A5
Oceanside to charge $150 fee THE VISTA for annualNEWS permit
Opponents say SB 9 will hit average homeowners hardest. A6 SDUHSD votes to expedite superintedent search. A7
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Supergirl Surf Pro returns to Oceanside Pier. A10
By Samantha Nelson
Sports Talk: 5 North Bolt bus keeps rolling. A11 Solana Vista reopens after Measure JJ renovations. A12 Encinitas planners approve Sunshine Gardens. A13 Jano’s Garden: Time to pick apples, pumpkins. A18
FOOD & WINE JOCKEY FLAVIEN PRAT won his third-straight riding title to wrap-up Del Mar Throughbred Club’s 82nd summer horse racing season on Labor Day. Racing fans set a Del Mar record for daily average wagering of $18.38 million, reaching a total handle of $569.98 million for 31 days of racing. Columnist Felix Taverna recaps the ’21 summer meet on Page A9. Coast News file photos
Mileage tax pilot program stirs controversy Opponents say state plan hurts middle class By Steve Puterski
REGION — Vehicle miles traveled and road usage charges are gaining popularity among some elected officials drafting public policies aimed at helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In California, the legislature recently passed Senate Bill 339, authored by State Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), extend-
ing a road usage charge pilot program until Jan. 1, 2027. Vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and road usage charges (RUC) are methods of tracking drivers and taxing them for using cars in an effort to push residents into alternative modes of transit, such as buses and trains. According to a 2017 report on a previous statewide pilot program (Senate Bill 1077), the program is a way to find alternative revenue sources to combat shrinking gasoline taxes as drivers transition to electric, hybrid and fuel-effi-
cient vehicles. But not every elected official is on board with the legislation, with some opponents viewing it as a step toward instituting a permanent — and more expensive — replacement for the state’s gas tax. State Sen. Pat Bates (R-Laguna Niguel), whose 36th Senate District covers parts of North County, voted against the extension. “California has the highest gas tax and gas prices in the country, so the last thing the Legislature should be doing is laying TURN TO MILEAGE TAX ON A7
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OCEANSIDE — Residents who wish to park their RVs, work trucks or other oversized vehicles overnight in front of their homes can do so as long as they have a city permit. City code now prohibits parking of an oversized vehicleRANCHO or a non-motorized vehicle or unattached trailSFNEWS er from 2 to 6 a.m. on any street or city parking lot with the exception of any commercial vehicles loading, unloading or delivering goods and any vehicles with a valid permit. Residents who own an oversized vehicle can apply for an oversized vehicle permit. Out-of-town visitors of residents can also purchase permits through residents who can prove their residency within the city. “You couldn’t just come in from Arizona and call in to park it,” said Public Works Division Manager Nathan Mertz. “You have to have a registered vehicle to a residential address in Oceanside, and that registration has to be current.” A vehicle is considered oversized if it is taller or wider than 7 feet, or longer than 25 feet. Earlier this year, the city imposed overnight parking restrictions on oversized vehicles in an effort to address numerous complaints from residents and business owners regarding the increasing
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Escondido Conservancy gets nat’l accreditation. B1
Cheers! North County: Oceanside distiller top shelf of local spirits scene. B8 Lick the Plate: Foodies on display at Échale. B8
SEPT. 10, 2021
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CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE passed a bill extending a road usage charge pilot program, which opponents say lays the groundwork for a permanent mileage tax. Courtesy photo
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