The Empire State has struck again. New York is forcing its drivers to purchase a new license plate beginning next year whether they like it or not. Beginning in April 2010 car and tractor trailer owners will have to purchase a new $25 license plate.
The new plates, featuring a bold new gold hue and a highly reflective surface, will make the roads safer and “reflect New York’s force and its resilience,” according to the state’s commissioner of motor vehicles.
Oh and also these new license plates are expected to produce $260 million in revenue. The new plates also will create more than 100 jobs in the maximum security prison in New York. Inmates of this vicinity have been creating the current license plates since 1923, for pay of 16 to 42 cents an hour.
Police will be able to tell if citizens have not renewed their license plate by the different look of the new “Empire Bold” style. This will greatly affect those of upstate New York, who are forced to use a car as opposed to those who transport themselves around the city without a vehicle.
The article is much unfocused I feel. It first talks about the unfairness to the residents of New York and the fees they have to pay. Then it begins to talk about the people living in upstate New York and the article finishes talking about the maximum security inmates. The way the article is set up is just unorganized I feel.
And as for the production and distribution of the new “Empire Bold” plates being for safety reasons, I think that is a load of crap. The new plates are strictly to charge everyone for something else. Granted it is a good idea to boost revenue for the state but it is still unfair to residents.
As far as being a police officer I think that this new plate will cause problems because they will be focused on pulling people over for not having this plate as opposed to other more serious offenses such as speeding or drunk driving.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/11/nyregion/11plates.html?ref=todayspaper
