ALBANY – Governor Andrew Cuomo appears to be giving up his plan to require the replacement of license plates that are at least 10 years old.
Following Tuesday’s release of a Siena College Research Institute poll indicating the policy is widely unpopular, the administration announced — in the clearest terms to date — that they will pursue a different strategy to ensure all vehicles have legible plates.
The governor’s plan had been scheduled to take effect next spring, when newly designed plates would also be rolled out. The policy was met with bipartisan opposition from state lawmakers, some of whom rolled out plans to circumvent the replacement mandate.
The push back primarily stemmed from the cost for New Yorkers, who would be required – regardless of the condition of their plates – to shell out $25 for new plates and another $20 to keep their plate number. The plate fees, which have been consistent for a decade, are capped by a 2009 state law and set by the state Department of Motor Vehicles.
The administration’s shift comes after weeks of gradual backpedaling on the issue, including state DMV Commissioner Mark Schroeder saying in late August that there was time to work with the state Legislature on different replacement plans before April.
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