By Gabriela Resto-Montero
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — Albany has put the brakes on a plan to charge New York drivers $25 for a mandatory new license plate.
Lawmakers had hoped to raise $130 million by making the switch to the retro-designed plates a requirement for all drivers, reported the New York Times.
Gov. David Paterson said he supported overturning the fee so long as lawmakers provided alternative means of raising money during the fiscal crisis, according to the Times.
Assembly members said the charge unfairly targeted upstate drivers since most city residents use public transportation, reported the paper.
The fees were passed as part of the 2009-2010 Assembly budget and also included an additional $20 fee for drivers who wished to keep their old license plate numbers.
Under the plan, new drivers would begin using the blue and gold plates April 1, and all drivers would transfer to the redesigned plate by 2012, according to the New York Post.
More than 100,000 people signed a petition against the fees, the Post reported.
Members of the Assembly said they would find other ways of raising money during the fiscal crisis.
