Governor Should Eliminate DMV Fee

I, as your Putnam County Clerk, am calling on Governor David Paterson and the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles officials to eliminate a number of DMV fee increases passed as part of the 2009-2010 budget, including the controversial new “plate exchange” program.

These fee increases are unnecessary and will impose additional financial hardships on Putnam County and NYS residents already struggling under a high tax burden and the weak economy.

I understand that New York State is facing a multi-billion dollar budget deficit, but, any first-year economics student realizes that a government cannot tax itself into a recovery—especially in these hard economic times when people are already struggling with high taxes and an uncertain job market. The new license plate exchange is ludicrous because the state already had one in 2001 at a much cheaper fee. People in Putnam County and upstate New York depend on their cars and trucks for transportation and for their livelihood. Governor Paterson is just making it harder for us to make our living.

The proposed 2010 plate exchange scheduled to begin in April will cost state residents $25.00 to exchange their current plates for a new set. If a resident wishes to keep the same plate number, they will need to pay an additional $20.00. The last plate exchange occurred in 2001, with the replacement of the liberty plates at a cost of $5.50, and replaced plates that were in circulation for more than 15 years. This exchange is redundant, unnecessary. and only serves to pad the NYS general fund for programs that do not benefit NYS drivers.

The proposed license plate exchange may cause chaos among our drivers whose plates are tied to parking permits, E-Z Passes, and other transportation related activities. A driver who neglects to update their information because they choose not to pay a $20.00 fee to keep the same number may be subject to fines and additional state fees due to E-Z Pass or a parking permit not recognizing the new license plate. This governor has shown a remarkable lack of empathy and understanding toward his upstate constituents through these proposed hikes. I will have petitions available at our DMV office in Brewster and at our County Clerk’s office in Carmel to protest and oppose these outrageous, unnecessary fee hikes. Perhaps the governor should take the time to consult and work with the local officials, such as the county clerks, who relate closely with the public, instead of unilaterally taking this action that will cost our state drivers more than they can afford to pay.

Mr. Sant is the Putnam County Clerk.