It’s a one time sales fee now, just wait until it is an annual registration fee. Heads will explode.
California has/had registration for bicycles, but the state did not make it mandatory. That was left to cities. Some cities made it mandatory and some did not. It used to be mandatory in Los Angeles but looks like it was repealed after I moved away due to the cost of the program and low participation. The registration was, of course, “for your own good,” because it would help you prove that the bike was yours if it was stolen. Not that police would ever actually look for a stolen bike. The cost to register was pretty cheap, a couple dollars or so. Some cities, like Berkeley, had or still have a small fine in place if you don’t register your bike.