The idea of implementing a wheel tax on Signal Mountain is still rolling but more research is needed before any action can take place.
"[Town Attorney Phil Noblett] can't find anywhere in the [Tennessee Code Annotated] where it authorizes for municipalities to collect a wheel tax," said Town Manager Honna Rogers.
The issue first arose during budget talks, when Vice Mayor Susan Robertson asked about the effect it could have within the town.
"It's not even something right now of 'how would it work?' because I don't think it's anything being considered at this point," Rogers said. "I don't think it's something anyone wants. It was just, doing research - can we even do this. The answer right now is I'm not sure."
Noblett did find where counties are authorized to collect such a tax for cities, often called a vehicle registration fee, according to Rogers, but that's not good enough.
"You can't do anything the state does not give you the power to do, so if it doesn't specifically say you can do it, you can't do it," she said.
The cities of Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain charge a registration fee for each vehicle registered to addresses in their city limits. Courts have ruled in favor of such fees when imposed for police reasons as opposed to revenue reasons, Rogers said.
"I talked to [Police Chief] Boyd [Veal] about this; from a public safety perspective he didn't feel it was needed," said Rogers. "He said, 'I don't want my officers to think those people [with stickers] are safe. They're not. I don't want people to say we're only pulling over people without tags.'"
Approximately 2,800 homes are within the town limits. The going local rate for vehicle decals is $3 to $10.