Ask The Mayor: Why is There a Car Beautification Fee?

Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino answers some of the most-asked questions submitted to his staff.

Q: I just paid my car registration fee online and noticed in the breakdown of fees that I have a “Beautification Fee” for $10. I was just wondering where the $10 goes?

A: Mahalo for the question and I can say that nothing frustrates me more than seeing a fee on my bill and not knowing what it’s for.

My staff contacted the Department of Environmental Management’s Abandoned Vehicles and Metals Section and were told that this fee is a state revolving fund fully entitled the “Highway Beautification and Abandoned Vehicles Disposal Fund.”

A portion of these monies are used for removal and disposal of abandoned vehicles from public roadways. The Department of Public Works also receives a small portion for tree trimming, though, it is not nearly enough to address issues countywide.

As a side note, the county developed a system in 2017 to send delinquent accounts for abandoned vehicles to the county’s contracted collection agency. This has further helped the county recover costs from processing these vehicles, in addition to a bimonthly auction.

Want to Ask The Mayor?

Submit your Maui County related questions to Mayor Michael Victorino by email at [email protected], by phone at (808) 270-7855 or via mail to 200 S. High Street, ninth floor, Wailuku, Hawaiʻi 96793.

Questions submitted will be considered for inclusion in the “Ask the Mayor” column.