WPCNR BLACK DENIM TROUSERS AND MOTORCYCLE BOOTS. November 11,2009: The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles introduced the new look of New York State License Plates today. The changeover to the new plates will be required of all motorists in April 2010 when all 12 Million New York State automobile owners will need to purchase new plates at the cost of $25 per set of two per car. A family with three registered cars would pay $75 for three vehicles they own, (with new license numbers), $135 to keep the same license plates with the new design.
The new New York State Plate introduced today by the DMV. If you wish to keep your old plate number, it costs you $45 per set, and this would mean $90 for two cars. The DMW will sell the plates, by mail through the automatic mailed registration renewal. Previously New York State Plate Sets for new vehicles sold for $15 per 2-plate set.
The legislation introducing the new plates and fees was included within the 2009-10 New York State Budget, and will raise $120 Million for the 2010-11.
Here is the official news release from the DMV introducing the new plate, edited:
New York State Commissioner of Motor Vehicles and Chair of the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee David J. Swarts today unveiled the "Empire Gold" license plate which will be issued to most vehicles registered in the state beginning in April, 2010.
A plate fee of $25.00 will be added to the registration renewal fee. Single plate registrations (e.g. motorcycles) will be charged a plate fee of $12.50. Motorists registered in the Passenger (PAS), Commercial (COM), Motorcycle (MOT) or Trailer (TRL) registration classes will have the option to keep their current plate number/letter combination.
Those with vehicles registered in other classes may also have this option. The registration renewal invitation will tell motorists if this option is available.
Those choosing to keep their current plate number/letter combination on the new Empire Gold plate will be required to pay a $20.00 fee (in addition to the $25 fee).
Vanity Plates Do Not Pay Extra $20
Those motorists holding a personalized plate will automatically be re-issued the same number/letter combination on their new plate. Because they currently pay an annual personalized plate fee, they will not be required to pay the $20.00 fee.
Most plates with the New York skyline banner across the top of the plate will begin to be replaced by the new Empire Gold plate in April. Custom picture plates will be replaced at a later date.
EZPASS automatically updated.
The DMV will also be electronically sharing updated plate number information with EZ-Pass so that motorists who participate in that program will not have to do so.
The DMV Explains what the colors mean.
"The bold colors of the new license plate reflect New York's force and its resilience," said Commissioner Swarts. "These new plates, in the official colors of the State of New York, will help maintain highway safety, reduce the number of unregistered and uninsured vehicles on our roads, and generate $129 million in General Fund revenue over two years, which will help address the State's financial crisis."
The new plate is gold in color with dark blue letters and numbers in the central part of the plate, separated by a small dark blue state silhouette. There is a dark blue banner across the length of the top of the plate, with "New York" printed in gold in the center. "Empire State" is in dark blue letters across the bottom.
State Police Superintendent Harry J. Corbitt said, "License plates are a fundamental tool of law enforcement that has been enhanced in recent years through a variety of technologies that improve their readability, especially under low light conditions. The State Police has worked cooperatively with DMV to ensure that the new plates will continue to serve the law enforcement community effectively."
Rationale
Periodically re-issuing plates is important for overall safety, law enforcement and the general integrity of the plate. License plate visibility tends to decrease as license plates lose their reflectivity and become marred and damaged from use. The legibility and reflectivity of the current Empire plate, which was issued beginning in 2001, was only guaranteed for up to 5 years. Current plates will have been in use for 10-11 years by the time they are replaced by the new Empire Gold plates.
"This project will benefit law enforcement efforts, and therefore enhance public safety, in several ways," said Denise E. O'Donnell, Deputy Secretary for Public Safety and Commissioner of the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services. "For instance, nearly 300 police agencies in New York State are currently deploying approximately 500 computerized license plate readers (LPRs) that enable authorities to quickly identify vehicles that have been stolen or used in a crime. These new plates will ensure that the LPRs are as effective as possible."
Periodic re-issuance also helps to ensure compliance with motor vehicle registration and insurance requirements. As new plates are issued, motorists that are driving with suspended or revoked registrations become more conspicuous.
"By helping to reduce the number of uninsured motorists, the new Empire Gold plates will help keep auto insurance costs down for all New Yorkers during these difficult economic times," said New York State Superintendent of Insurance James J. Wrynn.
DMV will begin issuing the new plates for registration renewals that expire in May 2010. Customers renewing their vehicle registrations in person in a DMV office, over the phone, by mail or through the Internet, will receive their new Empire Gold plates in the mail. Customers completing an original over-the-counter registration transaction will receive their plates immediately. The replacement will take place as part of scheduled vehicle registration and renewal and will take two years to complete. There are currently 12 million registered vehicles in New York State.
Additional information on the new license plates can be found by visiting the Department of Motor Vehicles website at www.nysdmv.com.
