Drivers suffer from pain at the pump, higher registration costs
Drivers in the Coachella Valley are getting sticker shock when registering their cars with the DMV. Taxes that went into effect at the first of the year are starting to make a major impact.
There is also major pain at the pump, gas prices are the highest they have been since September 2015.
“It was $237 and this one was $285,” said Yadira Robledo of Indio, comparing her registration costs from last year to this year.
Gov. Jerry Brown passed the Road Repair and Accountability Act last year. Registration went up between $25 to $175 a year, depending on the value of your vehicle.
The money is supposed to go to fixing our crumbling infrastructure, but people some people in the Coachella Valley said they didn’t have faith the money is going to repair roads.
“The governor is a dufus and what he is doing is he is spending money on social programs that are not for the people’s benefit,” said Samuel Christen of Rancho Mirage.
“I don’t think it is going to go to anything, what happens with all the money anyway? It doesn’t seem like they are fixing that many roads,” said Robledo.
From the DMV to gas pump, it’s costing more and more to drive. The current price surge for gas is the highest since September 2015.
According to AAA, California gas refineries are going though maintenance and starting the switch to making the summer blend.
“The combination of the higher demand than what we saw last year as well as the oil costs and production drops, all of those factors are putting upward pressure on the prices,” said Doug Shope, senior public affairs specialist with Auto Club of Southern California.
The Road Repair and Accountability Act also added 12 cents to every gallon of gas. Folks filling up have a feeling of helplessness.
“We need to get gas and there is nothing we can do about it,” said Matt Clark of Palm Desert.
“It does hurt a lot. I have to go out to Pamona every weekend to see my family so driving back and forth it is pretty tough,” said Mayra Ruiz of Palm Desert.
The average price for gas in Riverside County has risen every day for the past two weeks.
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