Upstate NY clerk joined by more than 5,000 against Paterson plan for new license plates

An upstate New York county clerk is carrying out an online petition drive to thwart Gov. David Paterson's plan to require all residents to purchase new license plates next April.

St. Lawrence County Clerk Patricia Ritchie said Thursday it's an outrage to ask families and businesses to pay more for new license plates they don't need or want when they are being battered by the ongoing recession.

"New York residents and motorists from as far as Plattsburgh and Brooklyn are raising their voices to tell Albany to stop picking our pockets to pay for more wasteful spending ... while our representatives add to their burden, instead of bringing relief," said Ritchie, estimating residents and businesses in her county will pay about $2.5 million for new plates.

More than 5,000 people have signed the petition since the Web site went up Monday to protest the new license plan, Ritchie said. Another 200 people who didn't have Internet access came to her office to sign their names, she said.

Beginning April 1, the state will require new license plates for every one of the estimated 10 million cars, trucks, trailers and ATVs registered in the state at a cost of $25 _ a $10 increase over the current cost. If you want to keep your same license plate number, it will cost you another $20.

In September, the state increased driver's license and registration fees 25 percent.

The governor's office has said the new licenses could make $129 million for the cash-starved state, which has a projected budget deficit next year nearing $5 billion. The legislature last spring approved a measure authorizing the license plate plan.

AP

Upstate NY clerk joined by more than 5,000 against Paterson plan for new license plates

Upstate NY clerk joined by more than 5,000 against Paterson plan for new license plates

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