Extra fee on traffic crashes loses

Wednesday, April 27, 2005 | 9:36 a.m.

SUN CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- Bills to impose a surcharge on certain traffic violations and to allow casinos greater access to criminal information were defeated in the Senate Tuesday.

And the Senate twice killed a bill to make it easier for ex-felons to regain their civil rights.

Without discussion, Senate Bill 124 to levy a $25 surcharge on a person responsible for a collision that required emergency medical services, lost on a 10-9 vote.

At least 11 of the 21 senators must vote to approve any bill.

The measure would provide that the money collected be distributed to the health districts or counties that are in charge of emergency medical services. The money would have been distributed on a population basis.

All nine Democrats voted against SB124.

Sen. Mike McGinness, R-Fallon, was absent because of the illness of his wife. Sen. Joe Heck, R-Las Vegas, abstained.

Also going down to defeat 7-13 was Senate Bill 308 that authorized release of certain information to persons about motor vehicles that may pose a threat to public safety.

Sen. Dennis Nolan, R-Las Vegas, said this bill, in the interest of public safety, would permit security personnel at places with 24 hours security to call police to get information on a car parked on the premises. The guard would be able to learn if the car had been stolen and whether or not the registered owner was wanted for questioning.

But Sen. Steven Horsford, D-Las Vegas, said the bill was "overreaching." He said these security personnel can now call police and have them come to the business to check out the car.

"This can be done now," he said.

The seven voting for SB308 were Republicans Mark Amodei of Carson City, Warren Hardy and Dennis Nolan both of Las Vegas, Bill Raggio and Randolph Townsend, both of Reno and Dean Rhoads of Tuscarora and Maurice Washington of Sparks.

McGinness was also absent.

Senate Bill 360 on restoring civil rights lost in the Senate initially on a 10-10 vote. After it went down to defeat, Sen. Bob Coffin, D-Las Vegas, tried to revive it. But his motion lost on a 10-10 vote again.

Sen. Mark Amodei, R-Carson City, joined the nine Democrats in voting for the bill.