Can anyone give me an example for "local law can have a significant impact on transportation cost"?

This is an interesting question (although a little vague) I live in Brisbane, Queensland Australia and we are currently having our local and state government prepare papers and consult the public on transport and living issues - I live in a region that has the fastest population growth in our country! Government decisions can have a big impact on transportation cost, from the implementation of toll roads and bridges, to the cost of fuel and the taxes. I know I haven't provided too many answers here but there are links below for you to investigate what Brisbane is doing to address transportation issues. Perhaps it may allow you to consider what costs will then be involved with regard to implementation of such strategies.

Go to your state Department of Motor Vehicles. They will be more qualified to help.

Someone just mentioned the fact that you cannot pump your own gas in NJ. That's correct, though they're working on over-turning that rule originally created in 1949 in hopes that it will lower gas prices up to $0.06 a gallon.

yes.

In NJ and Oregon there is a law against self serve gas. (For saftey) This supposidly adds about 6 or 7 cents a gallon. Yet gas is cheaper in NJ than its neighbors becuase of lower taxes. So those are two local laws, at least at the state level, that affext transportation cost.