The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, earlier this month, announced plans to pull blue and white license plates 10 years old or older, with a new design beginning next year. 

The replacement fee is $25, which was set 10 years ago by the state legislature under then-Governor David Paterson. There is also an additional $20 fee if you want to keep the same plate number.

"Forty-five dollars is a tremendous amount of money to have people who are over-burdened already, our taxpayers, our motorists, our seniors," said Ulster County Clerk Nina Postupack.

Now the Ulster County Clerk's office is allowing residents to be heard on the issue. They have petitions in their DMV office that people can sign if they are against the fees associated with the replacement.

Postupack says that, if the older plates are still in good condition, replacing them is unnecessary. 

"You should not be forced to pay $25 for a new license plate. There is no reason to do that, and I think that's where people begin to object," Postupack said.

The Cuomo administration has proposed a compromise with that in mind: Older plates found to be in good condition can remain on the road pending an inspection. Peeling or damaged plates would have to be replaced.

The Ulster County petition has been available less than two weeks and already has more than 500 signatures. 

DMV Commissioner Mark Schroeder says that since the program does not go into effect until April, they have time to work with the legislature to explore alternatives. In a statement, he says in part: "If the legislature can agree to a cost effective and practical plate inspection mechanism to determine what plates are still in good operating condition after the 10-year life and thus do not need to be replaced, we would welcome the opportunity to be cooperative."

The petition that sits in the Ulster County Clerk DMV office has been generated through the NYS Association of County Clerks, and Postupack says the plan is for county clerks statewide to pool the petitions they have and deliver them to the governor together. 

To sign the petition online, click here.