Create charge for their use

Published 3:30 pm Tuesday, January 14, 2014

In 2012, Oregon’s DOT determined that studded tires cause almost $50 million of damage to the highways per year. I would expect similar figures here. Since the Legislature is much better at making new laws than revising old ones, here is an answer to the problem. Create a license sticker for studded tire use. Charge $100 per year for the right to damage the roads. Perhaps this will persuade users to use non-studded snow tires that provide better traction in wet or snowy conditions, no added fee required.

On jobs, there is an old saying money goes where it is treated best. It we want jobs we need to ease regulations and taxes. The Legislature is reluctant to do this, but knows it is true, as this is what it did to entice Boeing to stay here. Now do it for the rest of our businesses.

Curt Young

Snohomish