Motor Vehicles 02.03.26

Yes.

We

maybe not. I gotta mash the button. There we go. We have a few minutes before the meeting starts, but we do have a sign up sheet upfront. If anybody wants to speak to any of the the, bills that's on the agenda this morning, and we we're not gonna hear hear senate bill one sixty.

We we're gonna hold that one until next week. They have some late last minute changes they're working on on that one. So we're gonna hold senate bill one sixty.

What

What number in advance? 232425? Alright. Well, good morning. I'd like to welcome everybody here to our first motor vehicle meeting of 2026.

We kinda got iced out last week, and, it was it was too cold, but we're, excited to get get started. We got several bills on the agenda. Before we start, I'm gonna ask rep chairman Vance Smith if he'll open in prayer for us. Y'all bow with us.

Thank you, mister chairman. Lord, we do thank you for this beautiful day you've given us, and, we thank you for the people here that are serving. Help us do your will and make the right decisions for the citizens of the state of Georgia. And we ask that you be with our families back home, be with our children and our grandchildren, and keep them safe. And lead God, direct us, Lord, in everything we do and say in Jesus' name.

Amen.

Thanks for that. And I I should have mentioned, we need to remember, Jenna Doherty, our our legal counsel. Now her mom passed away over the weekend. So keep her in your prayers. So, she does a great job for us, and, I know she needs to be lifted up this morning.

Before we get started, I'm gonna ask, each member to since our first meeting, kinda introduce herself and what what district, what counties they represent. And We'll start, to my immediate right down here with, Danny Mathis. What's your what's your number? 26, Danny.

Yes. She's like, I want you to introduce you. I'll help you.

I was studying up on

Mash Mashed your butt. Okay. You got

me now?

Yeah.

Well, I'm Danny Mathis. I represent District 133. That's Twiggs County, Buckley County, Wilkerson County, Dodge County, and half Telfair County.

Thank you.

Vance Smith. I'm from Harris County. I represent about 80% of Harris County, small portion of Muscogee, Columbus, and about 40% of Troup County follow the Chattahoochee all the way up to Heard County. Thank you.

Kimberly New, Douglas County, Paulding County District 40.

Good morning. Martin Montahan, House District 17, in the Paulding County, Georgia, the best, county in the state, I I would say. Proud to be here. This is the eighth year I've been on this committee. I'm a continual eight year thawing and, chairman Corbett's side, and we have a lot of fun here.

This is a great committee. Great members.

Thanks for that. I'm, representing John Corbett, District 174. I think I've been chairing this committee for about it's my eighth year, I think chairing this committee, I represent, Lounge, Echos, Clinch, where Charlton and Brantley Counties. So glad to be here. My immediate left, I'm gonna introduce our our our new, a we've got here with us this morning, our policy analyst.

We've we've we've got with us that helps us, Danny Nichols, but I'm gonna let her Yeah.

Thank you, chairman. I'm Danny Nicholas, and I'm with House Budget Research Office.

Alright. And they're here to keep me straight. I I only keep one for about two years, and they had said, well, I've gotta get out of there. So

number 18. Thank you, mister chairman. That's me blinking. Thank you. Thank you, mister chairman.

I'm, Dewey McClain, and I represent the District 109, Garnett County. We have 17 cities, so I want y'all to know that. And out of those 17, I represent four, which is Northcroft, Duluth, Lilburn, and Lawrenceville. So glad to be here, and I thank, mister chairman. This is my ninth year.

Thank you, mister chairman. Kimberly Alexander, and I have District 66, which is Douglas County. I was the only woman in this, caucus in this, committee for a long time, so I'm happy to have two additional women now. Thank you, mister chairman.

Number two.

Good morning, representative Brian Prince from Augusta, Georgia.

That's District 92.

Thank you. Number 28.

Jason Ridley, Chatsworth District 6, right in between Blue Ridge and Dalton.

Number 27.

Thank you, Martin. Matt Barton from Calhoun, District 5, up in Northwest Georgia, right beside this crazy guy.

And and I'd like to commend everybody for the great, attendance we've got this morning. Normally, 08:00 meeting's stuff, but this committee is dedicated and and ready to go to work. And I want to just thank y'all for for being willing to do that. Like I said, we've got, four bills on the agenda. We're gonna whole s b one sixty.

There's some late last minute changes they're working on. But I'm gonna start with the house bill two zero four, or the Dale Washburn. If you come to the table, and tell us about his bill. If you wanna bring somebody with you or, and we'll look at the sign up sheet if we got somebody who wants to, speak to the measure. Table one.

Thank you, mister chairman, gentlemen of the committee. I'm here to, present house bill two zero four, which is you often hear that something is a simple bill. This one really is a simple bill. If you look at page two, there are, three words four words stricken. Basically, this bill just removes the control of the movers of household goods rather than allowing, their fees to be regulated.

It simply does that, and we believe it's a good bill. And we do think it's best to let the free market work as far as setting rates on moving household goods. This bill was passed out of your committee last, year and, did not make it out of rules. So we're here today to represent it and ask for your favorable consideration. I'll be glad to answer any questions.

I have Lee Lemke here with me who will answer questions as well.

Okay. Well, Lee did sign up to speak to the measure. Lee, you wanna say any say anything, add anything Yes. To that? Many of

you know me. I've been, lobbying down at the state capitol for the last forty years and, enjoying it very much. But I've been representing the Georgia Movers Association for the last fifteen years, and, movers, have been under a tariff, meaning that the state would set the prices of what we could charge. We're simply saying the free market should take care of that. I mean, in other words, if a mover moves to, a company from one place to another, they don't they can set their own rates.

And we're still we still wanna be under the regulation of the Department of Public Safety to ensure that we have and give us our license so we have, have have the insurance behind it, the safety of our vehicles, and things like that. But the state should not be setting the prices, and that's what our board of directors has, asked me to come before you to ask to remove that, provision that has been in in the law for

a long time. And how are those rates set? Are they by mile or mileage fee

or is it

Yeah. Yes. They are.

They're they're

set as a and and it's a maximum rate that we can charge, unfortunately, many times because the economy has fluctuations. And I have to commend the department. They went and hired a a an outside consultant, an economist who was into logistics and recently reset our rates again. But for many years, it's been difficult to get them set because the the various, aspects and factors in the economy to set those rates from from fuel to cost of, goods to cost of employment, particularly, because employment fluctuates. And it's very difficult to find truckers that that can move the household goods.

So that's that's why we would like to remove that.

Alright. Number 18. Hey, mister chairman. I I guess, you know, I'd like to say, I I think it could be a good bill. I don't have any idea.

I just wonder who would be who would have the oversight? I mean, I'm just if I had a problem with, moving and and I mean, would I who I would I go to the term of COBRA?

No. You. We we would still be regulated under the Department of Public Safety. And so you would go there. They still will have that division of household goods and all the other things that dealing with, you know, complaints and things like that.

They keep a list of, rating, if you will, of the different movers. The people I represent give you quick numbers. Now these are old numbers, but we used to do because we're a state that brings in a lot of people, but we move inside the state a great deal, about 70,000 moves. My folks are moving almost 90% of those that that I represent. And so if there is a problem, would you would still go to Department of Public Safety.

Mister chairman, I guess a follow-up to to that. So it, so who would so who so the movers will set the rates.

No. Yes.

I mean, the move and so if I had a moving company and chairman corporate had a moving company, his rates were $50 to go one block and then mine was $10 to go that same one block. I mean, I'm just so so you're just saying that it's it's okay.

Right. And and generally, when customers call, I always tell them, get three bids. Go out and seek three different, people and and get those bids and those the there that's a guarantee, basically.

Action. Thank you, mister chairman.

Alright. And and the department of PSC, I guess they would cover. You have to be bonded, insured, and all that. They all those requirements have to be met. Still met.

Still met. Nothing changes with with that.

Before you get your license. And what we have right now, we still have quite a few unlicensed movers. And that's put you know, we we hope that every mover gets licensed. And then I tell again, tell the consumer when they call, make sure that it is a licensed mover to go on the website and check.

Alright. Just we have any further questions? Now would be the time.

Move too fast. Second.

Got a motion to second. Any further discussion? All in favor, say aye. Aye. All opposed, like, sign.

Thank you. Thank you, mister chairman. Have your bill. We just had an another member come in. I would like to, we got a full house.

I think that make makes everybody. I'm on what what number are you, Demetrius?

16.

16. Tell us, what district, you know, what counties, whatever you want wanna tell us.

Oh, wow.

That's where you're going to, Dimitris.

That's right, bud.

Let me get myself together. You never take my coat off.

No resume.

No resume. No resume. No resume. Thank you, mister chair. Yeah.

Yeah. All that good stuff. Henry and Clayton County, District 78, and I've been, a member on this committee for about fourteen years now. And, my name, Demetrius Douglas. I think that's about all.

Trying to get myself together. Go dogs.

I

think so. You you you played football somewhere, didn't you?

I just feel bad.

Alright. Well, thank you. Our our next, bill on the calendar is, house bill $9.44.

I

get it. And and while while he's coming to the podium, we we do have a a new member here, number 21. He's only been on this committee for how many years? Thirty six years. You don't

have any?

Tell us what counties you represent.

Are we

introducing ourselves? Yes, sir.

My name's Allen Powell. I represent, Hart Franklin in Madison County, and this is my thirty sixth year on this committee.

And and I forgot to, introduce, I've got I've got a new AA, this year. Tamaya, will you wave at everybody? You you need to have she did a wonderful job. She's had a lot to, got got phoned out of here in a short short while she started in December, so she's doing a great job. And then Brenda wash Washington.

Where's where's Brenda at? Anyway, she is the intern. Like to introduce both of them this morning and and thank them for what what they're doing. Alright. House bill nine forty four.

Tell us the LC number and and, it's pretty pretty important bill, I think.

Yes. Very important, mister chairman. First of all, I wanna thank the committee for all showing up for for my two bills today. It's it's kinda nice honor that everybody got up and got here by eight, and, just wanna thank everybody. It's house bill nine forty four l c 394841.

First, before I get started, I wanna, recognize wanna have lieutenant Mooney, Vince Mooney, with Georgia State Patrol. And also, we've got, the commercial vehicle enforcement, guys back here and and over here. I just wanna recognize them. Appreciate them being here today. This piece of legislation, it basically we it comes every year.

It's it's the, it's the, federal government, the guidelines that they give us for commercial vehicles going up and down the road. So we have to codify a new date every year. So we're just moving it from 01/01/2025 to 01/01/2026.

I don't think we have any questions on that, but we we we have a motion. Do we have a second? A motion and a second. Any further sun. That's great.

Yes. That was a great a great great job explaining that bill. But while you're here, we'll move on to house bill ten twenty two.

Alright. House bill ten twenty two l c six three zero zero five one. Miss Chambers and members of the committee, I'm I'm here today with house bill. This purpose of this bill is simple to ensure the vehicle owners and drivers in Georgia are actually complying with their existing laws on wind attending and license plates in light of new and emerging technology. Technology changes every day, and unfortunately this law is is not kept pace.

Many of you may not realize this, but today there's something called electronic window tinting. This technology allows a driver to have their windows tinted far beyond what is allowed under Georgia law. And if they are pulled over by law enforcement, they can simply press a button and the wind has instantly become crystal clear. So from the officer standpoint, what they've observed when initiating the stop is no longer what they see when they approach the vehicle. The same issue is now happening with license plates and tags.

This bill defines electronic tanning as the material that uses electronic current to change the light reflectance or light transmission of a surface. This includes but not limited to electronic electronic glass and polymer dispersed liquid crystal film. House Bill ten twenty two makes it clear that electronic tanning may not be applied in the front windshield, rear rear windshield, side windows tenning. No person may display a temporary or permanent tag that is not issued by the state of Georgia and is intended to resemble a Georgia license plate, including digital license plates. The bill also authorizes the Department of Public Safety to promulgate rules and regulations is necessary to enforce these provisions.

A violation is a misdemeanor for certain violations of first offense is a fine of up to $500 The second subsequent offenses fine is up to $1,000 Mr Mr Chairman members of this is fundamentally about officer safety, public safety and accountability. Law enforcement officers must be able to see who is inside a vehicle, clearly read and and verify license plates, trust what they observe during a traffic stop. Technology should not be used as a tool to evade the law or create an unsafe environment for our officers. HB ten twenty two simply updates Georgia law to reflect modern technology and closes loopholes that are already being exploited. Mister chairman, I appreciate y'all's favorable consideration.

Members.

Alright. We wait. The board's lit up. I think you didn't explain it very well. So we're going to I think number 23,

Brimontahan. Thank you, mister chairman. Thank you, mister chairman, for your presentation of the bill. I do have a question. It's kind of two questions.

We'll start with number one. I see on line 21 to 23, you struck the manufacturer. Was the intent on striking the manufacturer to not hold the manufacturer of glazings, electric glazings. What what was the what was the impetus there with '21 through '23?

Basically, you we're if you look through the law, it repeals everything that we we did as far as electronic tags. And so we did away with that. So anything that was referenced back to the electronic tags that was done years ago. The the issue, mister chairman, is is today's technology, that our tags we're not stamping our tags anymore. They're they're they're a flat plate, and they're they're we've we're getting folks out there that are duplicate plates, changing numbers.

Just a few weekends ago, I heard a story of somebody had three of the same plates running around Atlanta, and the flock system was picking them up. So doing away with the the totally, repealing of the electronic type tag, it we took everything like the manufacturer, everything. If you look further through it, you'll see all that being repealed.

So thank you, mister chairman. And so so I think you just answered my question. So in 2019 or 2020, I think we passed the digital license plate bill here. So the digital license plates allowed for a manufacturer of some sort to come in. I think they presented it to this committee or at least members of the committee.

We're doing away with that. We're saying you cannot have the did we ever actually deliver on those?

I do not know.

I I don't think we ever did.

I I

I think I think it's out there, but they're so expensive. Correct me if I'm wrong. $8,900 for the tag. Minimum. No.

Nobody's gonna spend that unless you're a, you know, pro football player like like Dewey down here. But but anyway, I think I think that's the problem with it. I I think we we did it but they're just so expensive.

With the technology, everything's done on an app now. So you could sit there and and change out the the, you know, the tag to whatever you want it to be. And and and you can you know, also, you could get put a, this day and time, a screen back there that may not be the one of the ones that the manufacturer made, but something that that that is a screen that you can use an app to change tag numbers out and, of course, also tint them. And you've got the ones on motorcycles. You see the ones that flip up.

I'm not even addressing that. We're just talking about, basically, right now, the tinting of tags and electronic tags.

So and thank you for that. I think that makes sense. You know, when I was a kid, we used to watch James Bond. If you remember, he had a flipping license plate. So now does that contemplate when you say electronic?

If somebody were to have a Aston Martin with a flipping license plate, did you contemplate, where this could go in the future, Chairman?

Well,

you kinda remind me of James Bond a little bit.

Well, God bless you. Mister chairman, at the proper time, I like Mike Beauchamp.

No. More like Gold Bond.

No. Like, you know, I don't sorry.

We do have a few more questions.

Okay.

Alright. Alright. Number 28. Have you ever read it?

Oh my gosh. That was good one. About to go bond. Oh, yeah. We're back on our bill here anyway.

So I guess my question is this. So I understand for the the part of the of the of police officer safety. But if you're going by, you see this tinted, you're probably pulling that car over for the wind has been too dark. Correct? And then you

That's up to I'll let you

And then when you walk up, the windows aren't tinted anymore.

That's correct.

So is it a safety thing or is it a ticket thing? Because now the windows aren't tinted, so the safety part is kind of out the window at that point.

Well, we kind of addressed that in the law.

Okay. Where did you?

That in as far as a window the tinting, you have the the the percent that you could tint a window is around 32%. It's officer's discretion whether it's plus or minus three with that 32. They've got a device called the window tint detector that they go up and they put on each side. Now they should be able to tell if if you've got the device in there that that you're tinting your windows. I mean, if you see, it's very dark at one moment then clear the next.

I mean, that's gonna be a discussion just like anytime someone's pulled over. You know, you you trust the person that you're having a conversation of why why I I saw this dark.

So is is these things are they darken them? Are they more dark than the legal? Or or can you get certain percentages?

Yes.

And you just turn the knob and it makes it darker or lighter?

Button you push. Yes, sir.

Okay. Alright. Then you can't well, I guess when they hit the button, you can't really test it to see how dark it can get or okay. I guess, I I mean, that's the only question I had was, like, I mean, I understand the whole part, like, when you're walking up to the car and not being able to see in it. But But if you are, then the it's off, then you can't actually see in it.

So that's the reason I was asking. We just had some troubles with the one specific, police department down on the interstate, just pulling everybody over for them. So that's what I just I don't wanna get to that point. But, alright. Thank you.

Alright. Number 17, representative Alexander.

Thank you, mister, chairman. I wanted to go to the, the portion where you were asking for $1,002.50. How did you come up with that amount? 1,000. If it is really about safety, how did you come up with these fees?

It's up to. So it's discretion that, you know, for the for the first fine up to 500 and the second time and and continue to find, in they'll you'll see that in the computer. Somebody keeps doing it. It's up to 1,000.

Right. Another question, mister chairman. So if we already have a rule where law enforcement can stop you and ticket you for a certain tent and that amount of the tent, then what is really the purpose of this bill?

The purpose of the bill is so that that those are out there that are driving around with their tinted windows. And when they when the law enforcement pulls them over for that, they they go to clear. Okay. They're not supposed to have the tinted the dark tinted windows. Follow the question.

Yes, ma'am.

Right. So what is that data? How many? What is the occurrence in the state of Georgia that that is occurring? Do you have numbers?

I do not have any numbers. No, ma'am. That that would be

this is a relatively new technology that we've we've actually just been made aware of this year. And so it's it's something we haven't even started tracking yet, but we're just trying to get ahead

of the curve ball on it.

Right. So no numbers as it relates to that tracking?

No, ma'am. K. There's probably some numbers that relates to just wind is being tinted that's not electronic. There's probably it's something out there with that. Of course, you know, I've I've personally ridden with, public safety before, and a lot of the cars you see out there in Atlanta, they're they're dark tinted windows.

And you just you know, all times you pull over, you'll have a discussion and and, just you'll test with electronic, I mean, the window tint detector. And it's up to the officer whether gives them a pass, gives them a warning, or,

finds them. Right. Thank you.

Alright. What are we going next? 23.

Well, I'd like you, mister chairman, and just a follow-up question to our previous topic. Do you think more Roger Moore or Pierce Brosnan?

I I was saying that Sean Connery look when you get a little grayer.

Oh, boy. Sean Connery. Okay. I'm not sure about my motion anymore, mister

Alright. Then we we can get back on topic. Representative eighteen, Representative McLean.

Thank you,

mister chairman. I I guess I'm I'm going back to the tinted windows because, again, you said it was up to and, I have a problem with that. I know it's at the officer's discretion. I only say that because I do know that there are some, some doctor's excuses that allow some things that are in cars that, allow the windows to be a little tinted. That's what does that have any I'm just just asking any bearing.

Because I mean, reason I said because I know that my wife has one and I won't, and so it's probably old. But I just wanted to make sure that the tent you know, it says that because of her her her illness that, you know, that the windows need to be tinted. Is that a

We did not change anything under current law of the the Okay. Of the window tinting. We're just we added electronic window tint where you can turn it on and turn it off.

I just wanna make sure that

anything that that Right. Previous law about, you know, where, you know, the the, 32% plus or minus three. All that's the same. We just added, you cannot have electronic tint where you're turning, going over the 32 and then going down to zero.

Yep. That was my my only concern was I didn't want all of a sudden to say that the the doctor letter that the MD that she has, I wouldn't want I wouldn't want her to be I wouldn't wanna be stopped and and I give him a letter and he says, oh, no. We letter's no good. But anyway, thank you.

Yes, sir.

Thank you, mister chairman. Thank you, mister chairman.

I'm trying to turn that. Okay.

Seeing no further questions, I'd be willing to entertain a motion if somebody wants to

Second. Second.

We got a motion and a second. Any further discussion? All in favor, say aye. All opposed like son. Thank you, committee.

Appreciate everybody. Alright. We have one more bill this morning. I'm gonna ask, or have Clifton here come up to the table and tell tell us about some small trucks.

Good morning, mister chairman, members of the committee. I have HB nine five seven. I will be short and brief. This bill made it through committee, through the house, through the senate all the way, last year. And unfortunately, due to some additions by the senate, it was decided to be, vetoed.

Or it it was not able to pull that senate bill across the finish line.

It's just No, sir. Just it was it it's just a little too small of a truck. Maybe a full size truck, but these miniature trucks are they're limited on weight. So, so but we're back with the original bill. Nothing in it.

I actually have, support from the governor's office. They like this bill. They were very clear that they had no problem with my bill and would support it. So they asked me to run it again. So here I am.

So this is the mini truck bill. We're essentially adding the word mini truck to, the statute, basically next to side by sides the way we did, three or four years ago. Just allows them to be driven on county and city roads unless they are marked and the counties and cities don't want them driven on the roads. So

As far as, like, insurance requirements and that kind of stuff, you got blinkers, turn signals, mirrors, just like they did the side by sides? Do they

Yes, sir. Absolutely. It's, it's I mean, it's a standard vehicle. I would I would make the argument they're probably a little bit safer and have more of the typical road driving features than a side by side would. But, yes, sir.

They're standard vehicle, just a lot smaller.

Alright. Number 28, Chairman Ridley.

Oh, I I was just gonna say, I I think we've been on this thing for about eight years now. And I think we've heard every side of it and everything else. So at the

at the proper time One one more question. We have number 23. I I get I'll use a question.

Oh, thank you, mister Jima. Representative, thank you for bringing the bill. I was, you know, that senate bill that took a ride on this. Just didn't have the the butt to get it over the finish line. I had a question for you though.

It says four or more wheels. So, man, how many wheels do you contemplate a mini truck actually having?

I would say a standard mini truck would have four. I'm not aware of an off road vehicle that has six, but, you know

If you wanted to build a mini truck, how many wheels would you put on it?

Definitely four. It seems like a good stable number.

Yeah. Yeah. Could you explain to us or maybe diagram what a non straddle seat is?

So a straddle seat would be something like a motorcycle. So if you're driving if the inside of your mini truck looks like a motorcycle and have, you know, handlebars like this, that's not working in this scenario. It's a typical seat with a typical steering wheel.

So you would say that the seat that you're sitting in and the seat that I'm sitting in is a non straddle seat?

Yes. I would agree with that.

K. Thank you. Good bill.

How about tenant windows?

Alright. Number 12. Mister chairman,

just for clarity purposes, I keep hearing truck, but this is also, referring to the mini vehicles with the five wheels that they that's so popular now. They're two seaters. I I don't know the name of them. Three Three Three Yeah. The three wheelers.

So this is

This would not apply. Apply. This is strictly for four four wheels. I mean, I'm trying to see if I found exactly where that is. But

So the the even though they're classified as miniature as well, it excludes certain miniature vehicles and only the ones with four wheels.

This would just be four wheels. Absolutely.

Thank you, missus Ross.

There we go. I went too far.

Thank you, mister speaker.

Yes. Line 28 d is designed to travel on four wheels or more. So a three wheel three wheeled vehicle would not fall underneath the statute.

One more question. Number 18.

Thank you, mister chairman. Sure we cut you off. I'm here. Thank you. I appreciate that.

It's okay. Chairman, I was just looking at the safety issues. Is it the multipurpose off highway vehicle shall be equipped with, you know, headlights, brake lights, taillights, rearview mirror, and safety belts? So I I guess no airbag. None of that stuff is required.

I'm just asking. I didn't know.

I don't believe so. These are for I guess, also to say these are only for vehicles older than twenty five years old. So these are would also be based on, antiques and would be, taxed accordingly at the cost of a dollar. So these are older vehicles. Newer vehicles fall underneath the federal guidelines, and what I have been told, is that that's not something we can change.

So these are, in fact, vehicles, beyond the year of 2000.

Alright. 2000.

Thank you. Thanks, mister chairman.

Alright. Seeing no further questions, representative we got a motion due passed. Do we have a second?

Second.

A motion and a second. Any further discussion? All in favor, say aye. Aye. All opposed.

Like, sign. You have your bill, and that's, what wraps up our meeting. Thank you everybody for being here. The meeting is adjourned.

Thank you, mister chairman. Thank you, members.

You got some bills assigned?

We don't put ear bags on the side by sides.