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Gov. Linda Lingle has allowed legislation hiking car rental fees to become law without her signature.
The measure takes effect Sept. 1 and is to last 20 years.
It will push the rental fee from $1 to $4.50. Proceeds will finance the planning, design and construction of a consolidated car rental facility at airports around the state.
In her statement of concerns, Lingle says she supports the rental facility. But she says the higher charge will hit tourists just as the state is trying to encourage more visitors.
She also notes that the current $1 fee has expired, and the state will lose an estimated $1.7 million in fee revenues until the higher fee is implemented in September.
