Faggione against State License Plate Plan
September 13, 2019 - Cuddebackville, NY - Orange County Legislator Thomas Faggione is standing with fellow legislators against New York State’s plan to impose a mandatory replacement of your vehicle license plates. Faggione is co-sponsoring a resolution with Legislator Joseph Minuta opposing Governor Cuomo's proposed regulations requiring new license plates and fees. This resolution will be presented at the September 18th meeting of the Rules, Enactments, and Intergovernmental Relations Committee of the Orange County Legislature. (A draft of this resolution can be found below.)
Legislator Faggione commented, “Once again the politicians in Albany continue to find ways to pry more money out of your pockets. This time they plan on forcing New Yorkers to replace their license plates, of course, with a fee of $25.00 per pair. Enough is enough from Albany. Stop the endless burdens you pile on the citizens of our great state. The record number of New Yorkers leaving the state is not because of the weather - it is because of the actions of our state government. The increase fees, taxes, and government overreach are the reasons people are leaving.”
The Rules committee chaired by Thomas Faggione and includes members Michael Amo, John S. Vero, Barry J. Cheney, Katie Bonelli, Kevin W. Hines, James M. Kulisek, Michael D. Paduch.
RESOLUTION OF THE ORANGE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OPPOSING GOVERNOR
CUOMO'S PROPOSED REGULATIONS REQUIRING NEW LICENSE PLATES AND FEES
WHEREAS, Governor Cuomo and the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles has announced plans to require new license plates that will force millions of motorists to pay a $25.00 per plate fee and another $20.00 if they want to keep their current plate number; and
WHEREAS, an analysis by Senator James Tedisco, indicates that the license plates cost $2.3 million per year and project that the state will reap more than a $70 million-dollar revenue windfall from the $25.00 per plate fee; and
WHEREAS, according to Part H of the NYS Budget Bill A.159B of 2009, the State can charge up to $25.00 for a license plate, but is not required to levy such a fee, and over the past decade has not imposed that cost; and
WHEREAS, the current license plates are satisfactory for cashless tolling and red-light cameras according to the Thruway Authority and law enforcement; and
WHEREAS, nowhere in the law does it state that license plate design replacement is mandatory, and while some plates may be peeling or fading, motorists should not be forced to pay additional fees because of the inferior product that the state purchased.
WHEREAS, many County Clerks, including Orange County Clerk, Annie Rabbit, and many consumer groups have spoken out in opposition to the Governor's License Plate Fee proposal.
NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby
RESOLVED, we, the Orange County Legislature, hereby expresses its strong opposition to the Governor's License Plate Tax hike proposal and urges him to reverse his plan to charge millions of motorists $25.00 for new plates and $20.00 to keep their current plate numbers, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Clerk of the Legislature be and is authorized and directed to send a certified copy of this resolution to the Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York, to Honorable Annie Rabbit, Orange County Clerk, Senator James Tedisco, to each member of the New York State Senate and Assembly whose districts include all or a part of Orange County, New York State Association of Counties and the New York State Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles, so that they may be apprised hereof and take all necessary and appropriate action.
The Orange County Legislative Committee on Rules, Enactments, and Intergovernmental Relations meets Wednesday, September 18th, 3:30 pm, in the Orange County Government Center 255, Main Street, Goshen, NY. Meeting takes place in the legislative committee meeting room, 3rd floor. This meeting is open to the public.
The Rules committee chaired by Thomas Faggione and includes members Michael Amo, John S. Vero, Barry J. Cheney, Katie Bonelli, Kevin W. Hines, James M. Kulisek, Michael D. Paduch.
Complete agenda for the Rules Committee can be found at the link here>