Steve Hilton Wants to Abolish the California DMV

Steve Hilton, the Republican candidate for governor of California, presented on Monday an ambitious plan to eliminate the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) as an independent agency and reduce the annual vehicle registration fee to $73. The announcement was made in front of a DMV office in West Hollywood, as part of the “Cali-fordable” campaign.

What changes in the DMV's structure

According to Hilton, the DMV would undergo a three-month audit before being dissolved as a separate agency. A smaller operation would continue to issue driver's licenses, REAL IDs, and prevent fraud, while vehicle title, registration, and renewal services would be transferred to county offices and certified service centers.

Repurposing of buildings and services

The candidate stated that the buildings no longer used by the DMV would be offered to community colleges and apprenticeship programs to function as training centers and after-school clubs. The proposal also provides that properties no longer needed could be sold.

Cost reduction and state revenue

Hilton's plan projects that vehicle registration revenue would drop from approximately $11 billion a year to $2.7 billion. To offset the loss, he proposed “Operation Zero Waste,” which aims to reduce state spending.

Reaction from opponents and legislative challenges

Xavier Becerra's campaign communications director, Jonathan Underland, criticized the proposal, saying that “nothing says ‘safer roads’ like outsourcing driver safety checks to the lowest bidder.” The plan would require approval from the California Legislature, where Democrats hold a supermajority in both chambers, making its viability uncertain.

Impact on drivers

While some drivers, such as Juanita Sams, praised the cost reduction, others, like Charles Douglas, expressed concern about where they would conduct their transactions if the DMV were abolished. The proposal still awaits public debate and a legislative decision.

With information from The Guardian, 10News.com, Yahoo.