By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – Businesses that purchase vehicle and driver's license records from the Missouri Department of Revenue have gone to court to reverse a recent fee hike.
Earlier this month, the Department of Revenue raised its fees from $1.25 to $7 per record.
One witness for the plaintiffs said that the hike will cost his company up to $42 million.
Timothy Sowton of R.L. Polk and Company testified that the higher fee will make it harder for his company to afford to issue recall notices to car owners.
"If we don't have data from Missouri or any other state, that devalues what we can provide to our customers," Sowton said.
The defense argued that driver's license and vehicle records don't fall under Missouri's Sunshine law.
However, Cole County Judge Richard Callahan interrupted testimony and announced he was leaning against endorsing the higher fees.
He asked defense attorneys if they had any evidence justifying the fee hike under the Sunshine law.
The judge may or may not hear more testimony before issuing a ruling.