As if a whole host of new and additional fees weren't enough, New York State has come up with yet another way to take money out of the pockets of its citizens: The issuance of new motor vehicle tags (license plates) begining with registrations (new or renewed) in April, 2010.
Not that anyone on the road sees anything wrong with the current NY plates -- those boasting the motto The Empire State under scenic views from around New York -- although State officials tell us that the change is required because these "old" tags have "lost reflectivity." [Funny, but that State Trooper on the Thruway had absolutely no trouble seeing mine!]
An additional fee, adopted in this year's state budget (thank you, State Legislators, and you, too, Governor Paterson) is clearly nothing more than a revenue-raiser -- in other words, a new tax.
Starting in April 2010, all vehicles registered in New York will be required to have brand new license plates at $25 a set, regardless of whether this is a new registration, or merely a renewal. That's $10 more than the current price. And if you want to keep your same license plate number, it will cost you another $20.
There are 12 million registered vehicles in the State, and the State Department of Motor Vehicles estimates this will bring in $129 million. [Although, there is no mention of the new tag requirement/additional fees on the DMV website.]
By the way, this is just one of more than 100 fees that were adopted in last year's budget to close the gap, and, as one upstate State Senator put it, "to spend the money of hard-working New Yorkers."
License and registration fees will also go up 25%. Starting September 1st, the price of a driver's license will increase from $50 to $62.50.
So, New Yorkers, prepare to dig deeper into your wallets, not only for gas and driver's licenses, but for the very privilege of keeping your car on the road.
Hey, has anyone considered public transit? Wait a minute. They're charging us more for that mode of transportation as well.
Start walking, folks (assuming they haven't figured out a way to tax that -- yet). The end, if not near, is just down the road apiece.
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