Senator Saland and Columbia County Clerk Holly Tanner Launch Petition to Fight the New License Plate Requirement

Over the next two years, beginning in April 2010, motorists will be forced to purchase new license plates when registering their vehicles, costing them $25. If you elect to keep your old plate numbers, expect to pay another $20.  The new plates are in addition to the increase in driver license and registration fees that took effect September 1, 2009. 

Senator Saland(R,I,C- Poughkeepsie) and Holly Tanner, Columbia County Clerk, have joined together to announce their efforts to collect signatures from the public opposing the plan to pay for a new license plate.  The Governor and the Democrat-controlled Legislature supported these increases to support a bloated budget that increased spending and raised taxes and fees by $8.5 billion.

“Taxpayers are tapped out and angry.  Families are struggling to make ends meet and businesses are cutting jobs.   I fought this money grabbing budget in April and will continue to fight it,” said Senator Saland.  “This fiasco of a budget illustrates how out of touch our State’s leaders are with reality.  This plan has nothing to do with the need for new license plates, but rather it was driven by the Democrats insatiable thirst for revenue. People living outside the city of New York are reliant on their cars and between the fee increases and the escalating gas prices, motorists can’t afford to keep feeding the spending habits of the Governor and his Democrat allies,” concluded Saland.

County Clerks across the State are hearing directly from the people and have begun collecting thousands of signatures in opposition to the license plate replacement plan. 

“I am hearing loud and clear from people in Columbia County that they are tired of being milked dry by the out-of-control spending and lack of real reform in Albany,” said Holly Tanner.  “I have collected over 1200 signatures since starting my petition in September and will continue to fight this proposal for my constituents.  Senator Saland understands that easy fix of raising fees in DMV isn’t the solution to the problems in New York, and I am happy to join in his efforts to help stop the madness!” stated Tanner.

Saland and Tanner stress that it is important to send a strong message to those who keep raising our taxes and fees.  To voice your opposition to the new license plate requirement and fee increase, please sign on to www.saland.nysenate.gov and click on “join the fight” or register your signature at your county DMV office.  For those without access to a computer, please call Senator Saland’s office to add your name and address to the petition at (845) 463-0840.