County Hikes License Plate Fee to Pay for Fingerprinting System

The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to raise the cost of registering a vehicle by $1 and use the money to buy a state-of-the-art fingerprint identification system for police.

“I don’t like the idea of a fee increase, but I think it is the only viable option,” Supervisor Thomas W. Wilson said. “Our officers need this law enforcement tool.”

Wilson and Supervisors Charles V. Smith and William G. Steiner supported the proposal. But Board Chairman Jim Silva and Supervisor Todd Spitzer opposed it, saying the system could be financed without raising the fee.

The $1 fee will generate about $2 million. Local police officials said the money is desperately needed to replace the county’s fingerprint identification system, which is running out of memory and needs new parts that are no longer made.

Officials said the new system eventually will allow police to check suspects’ fingerprints with machines in patrol cars.

The state Legislature passed a law last year allowing counties to enact a temporary $1 fee for the fingerprinting system. The board twice delayed voting on the proposal, saying it wanted to see whether cities supported the idea. So far, about half of Orange County’s 31 city councils have endorsed the fee.

In other action, supervisors once again attacked assessor Bradley L. Jacobs for not participating in a state loan program that could provide Orange County with millions of dollars to speed its assessment appeals backlog.

Board members said that next week they will consider reducing Jacobs’ salary if he does not cooperate with them.