Archive for the ‘laws’ Category

Last week we wrote about New York State's plan to issue new license plates, ostensibly to replace old ones whose reflective material may have worn off.

The new and clearly retro design was meant to evoke the bright yellow plates used from 1973 to 1986. But in reality, the sole purpose of the $25 new-plate fee (plus an additional $20 for owners to retain existing numbers) was purely to raise revenue.

Now, after more than 100,000 New Yorkers added their signatures to the NoNewPlates.com protest website, the state has backed down. Somewhat.

Last Sunday, Governor David Patterson said he would drop his support for the plan if legislators work...

Obviously you have to replace license plates now and then. Among other reasons, the reflective material wears off. And besides, that way cops can tell if a car hasn't been re-registered in, ohhh, several years.

Like many states, New York is grappling with major budget deficits. Now it has turned to a slew of new fees to fill the gap.

Following a $50 surcharge on vehicle registrations and a $16 fee on driver's license renewals, the state plans to charge car owners $25--up from $5.50 nine years ago--for a new license-plate design that will start arriving for car sales and renewals next April.

But many states charge nothing at all for...

By now, every driver knows about traffic enforcement cameras. Found in more than 20 states, they photograph drivers committing traffic offenses, whether it's speeding or running a red light. The tickets simply arrive in the mail.

Found in more than 20 states, they're attractive to municipalities because they're run by private companies that install and maintain them, then split the take with the town. Free cash, out of the wallets of motorists.

But a recent article in the Washington Post pointed out a new way to fight automated traffic cameras: They can be banned through the citizen initiative process.

This past Tuesday, for example, voters...