Cost of driver’s license could go up

The Iowa Legislature is considering a two-year increase in the cost of a driver’s license. Senate Transportation chair, Dick Drake a republican from Muscatine, says the cost would go up two dollars a year — so a five year license would cost 30 dollars instead of 20.He says the electronic system used to keep track of the licenses is about 25 years old and it will be renewed. He says raising the fee for two years would raise about 13-million dollars. Drake says the price increase would take effect in July and last through June of 2005 — so only the people renewing their licenses in that time would pay the increase.Drake says it would be a “potluck” of people who have to pay the increased fee, but they think they have to go ahead and “draw straws” and do it. The Senate Transportation Committee voted unanimously today to approve the increased fee, and it now goes to the full Senate for debate.