King County Superior Court Judge Mary Yu issued a temporary restraining order Wednesday stopping the so-called $30 license tab initiative, I-776 from fully going into affect on December 5.

Attorney Tom Ahearne argued for the two counties and the city of Tacoma that if the initiative is not constitutional, putting it into effect now would rob the two counties of 17 percent of their safety and transportation improvement money for the next year.

Judge Yu ruled it would be more difficult to chase people down asking for $15 more for the license tabs than to collect it impound it in a special fund and then return it to the vehicle owners should the initiative be found unconstitutional when those arguments are heard in January.

Judge Yu ordered the money be collected, held in a special fund and not distributed to counties and cities for road work unless and until the initiative is found unconstitutional.

I-776 sponsor Tim Eyman said it is another case of county officials' greed for money being placed ahead of the will of the people.

"People voted for $30 tabs, they deserve $30 tabs starting Dec. 5," he said. "Government's love for tax dollars clearly outweighs its respect for the voters."

Eyman was particularly critical of King County Executive Ron Sims and the King County Council. Eyman said they passed a bond issue using license tab money just one month before the vote. He called it an obvious attempt to get around the law.

Assistant State Attorney general Jim Pharris said the state will be looking at the actions of King County, but he knows of no law which would prohibit a bond issue before the initiative was approved by the voters.