State Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima) scrapped a proposal that would have allowed California auto dealers to increase fees for processing vehicle purchases and lease agreements. The money collected — $20 for purchases and $30 for leases — was to be used to adopt an electronic vehicle registration system that would ultimately shave the time it takes to get license plates on vehicles to a few weeks from about three months.

The proposal had been promoted as a “trailer bill” to the state budget, which would have enabled it to become law without going through a legislative subcommittee and public hearing.

But Padilla decided “not to move forward with the proposal,” a spokesman said, without further explanation.

Consumer groups protested the original plan, claiming that it would give auto dealers millions more in profits.