Two state lawmakers who represent communities surrounding the Mario M. Cuomo Bridge are giving Gov. Andrew Cuomo the stop sign by introducing legislation to repeal his edict ordering motorists to cough up $25 to replace old license plates. 

“People are outraged, and I get it,” said state Sen. James Skoufis (D-Woodbury), who is backing the measure along with Sen. David Carlucci (D-Rockland). 

“We did some good stuff this year…but that progress rings somewhat hollow if we’re just going to fee people to death.  This is just another way to nickel and dime them to death, particularly when they’re already nickeled and dimed at the DMV to begin with.” 

One of the designs that motorists could choose for the new plates is the new bridge named after Cuomo’s father, the late Mario M. Cuomo. 

Starting April 1, 2020, vehicles with plates 10 years and older will have to pay a $25 replacement fee regardless of condition. 

An extra $20 will be tacked on to keep the same digits. 

Cuomo announced the news Monday, along with a contest ending Sept. 2 for New Yorkers to choose the new design. 

“We would ban the state from forcing residents to get a new license plate regardless of the age if it’s in good condition…it really serves no purpose,” explained Carlucci of the legislation, also introduced by Democratic Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara (D-Schenectady) on Wednesday in the other chamber. 

Carlucci also said he didn’t buy Cuomo’s argument that the new plates could be more easily read by the new cashless tolling system as reason to order drivers to buy new ones. 

“I’m not convinced about this cashless tolling issue.  I have had hundreds of individual complaints; serious problems where people have had massive unpaid fines, either with Thruway Authority or the MTA and never once did I hear it was the license plate that could’ve been at fault,” he said. 

“They’re calling it a fee and it’s really a tax, the governor’s pet project that’s not right, it’s wrong.  This is a tax on working class people,” Santabarbara seethed, adding he is in discussions with Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie’s staff. 

There’s another bill in play from GOP state Sen. Rob Ortt (R-North Tonowanda) and Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb (R-Rochester), which would waive the $25 fee. 

Democrats control both houses of the legislature, and therefore contract what legislation gets passed.  Having fellow Democrats oppose the license plate renewal program poses more of a problem for Cuomo. 

Cuomo’s office defended the plate replacement program. 

“There’s political cheap shots and there are facts: the $25 fee was set in statute by a Democratic Senate in 2009 and if they want to overturn themselves and come back for a special session, they are welcome,” Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi snapped.