Gov. Paterson said today he’s willing to reconsider the fee for gawdy new vehicle license plates – but that someone will have to make up the $129 million the fees would bring to the state budget.
After a day of outrage from state motorists over the mandatory $25 charge they are compelled to shell out for the newly-designed “Empire Gold” plates, Paterson said he’d like a way to “replace” the fee.
“I’ll go back and take a look at the license plates because it has upset so many people,” he said today. “I’m optimistic I can find a way to replace the $129 million hole … and I’ll reconsider it.”
Department of Motor Vehicles officials say current plates are in need of replacement — but drivers fumed that the fee was just another backdoor way to suck money from taxpayers’ wallets.