Legislative briefs for February 15, 2001

Thursday, Feb. 15, 2001 | 11:46 a.m.

Williams pushes Internet services

With lines at the Department of Motor Vehicles still long enough to make most residents dread a simple visit, Assemblyman Wendell Williams wants to put more of the agency's services on the Internet.

Williams, D-Las Vegas, introduced Assembly Bill 140 on Wednesday to give anyone with access to the Internet more control over DMV matters.

If passed, the measure would require the DMV to have most services on the Internet by Jan. 1. Williams said the only possible service that couldn't be accommodated by computer would be proof of a vehicle's odometer reading.

The bill was referred to the Assembly Transportation Committee.

Measure would help preservation

A bill introduced Wednesday would give city and county governments the authority to adopt ordinances to preserve the character of neighborhoods.

Assembly Bill 131 would allow local governments to impose prohibitions, requirements and standards to the maintenance of buildings, vacant land, removal of graffiti and the abatement of airborne pollens.

Assemblywoman Kathy McClain, D-Las Vegas, introduced the bill.

Dini's proposal targets lawsuits

The third piece of construction-defect legislation was introduced Wednesday as lawmakers continue to struggle with an issue many thought was resolved during the 1999 session.

Assemblyman Joe Dini, D-Yerington, introduced Assembly Bill 133 on behalf of the Southern Nevada Homebuilders Association.

The bill would allow contractors to repair certain construction defects in complex matters in an effort to keep lawsuits against them at a minimum.

"Their contractors want to go ahead and fix the defects without getting sued," Dini said. "What we did last session just opened it up to all the lawsuits."

Dini admits the bill faces a "real big fight" between homebuilders and trial attorneys, but said he hopes the two sides can come up with some type of compromise.

"The basic effort of the homebuilders is not to prevent lawsuits but to try to execute the repairs so that the homeowners don't feel that they have to have lawsuits," said Jim Wadhams, a lobbyist for the homebuilders association.

Dini's bill was referred to the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

Single tag in rear proposed

Vehicles would only be required to have one license plate, under a bill introduced Wednesday.

Assemblyman Don Gustavson, R-Reno, is sponsoring Assembly Bill 136, which would require only rear license plates on each vehicle.

"The main reason for this is because many newer vehicles and classic vehicles do not have a provision for front license plates," Gustavson said.

Gustavson said his measure would have little impact on law enforcement, and would instead allow motorists the freedom to place store-bought logo plates on the front of their vehicles.

The Assembly Transportation Committee will next consider the bill.

TV show will air episode

This week's edition of "America's Most Wanted" will feature a segment on the "Chris Trickle bill," a Nevada law enacted in 1999.

The program, which features interviews with the Trickle family and Sen. Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, will air Saturday at 9 p.m. on KVVU Channel 5.

The law makes it possible in Nevada to prosecute an individual for murder if the victim dies more than a year and a day after the crime was committed. Prior to the passage of the bill, a murder prosecution was prohibited if the time period had expired.

Titus and Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, sponsored the bill after the murder of race driver Chris Trickle. Trickle died in an emergency room in 1998, about 13 months after he was shot in the head.