McKevitt Outraged Over Driver/Registration Fees
Assemblyman Tom McKevitt expressed outrage at the blatant money grab orchestrated by Governor David Paterson and his cohorts in the state Legislature. As part of the 2009-10 state budget, which McKevitt voted against, driver’s licenses and registration fees will increase dramatically.
Effective September 1, driver’s license and vehicle registration fees will increase 25 percent, which means an average class D driver’s license will go from $50 to $64.50 and registering an average weight vehicle will increase from $45 to $56. Adding insult to injury, effective April 1 of 2010 all registered vehicles will be required to get new license plates and renewed registrations forcing motorists to pay the new registration fee plus an increased $25 fee for the license plate, up from $15.
“By state mandate, every person will have to pay the fees necessary to obtain new license plates for their vehicles. In an obvious attempt to add money to the state’s shrinking coffers, anyone who wants to keep their license plate number will have to pay an additional $20. It is outright robbery,” said McKevitt.
As if things couldn’t get any worse, in the 12-county MTA region that includes Nassau there will also be a $16 supplemental fee on all driver’s licenses, bringing the cost for a standard driver’s license to $80.50. There is also a $50 supplemental fee for all vehicle registrations in addition to the 25 percent increase. Keep in mind this doesn’t include any additional county taxes and fees that might be tacked on.
“Long Island residents are leaving the region and the state in droves because they can no longer afford to live here. That’s why I am calling for the immediate repeal of such fees and for better solutions to be found to make up for declining revenues.”
