Sen. Lombardi Wants to Squash Extra Fee for Vanity Plate Renewals

Cranston’s State Sen. Frank S. Lombardi has been trying to find a good reason why vanity plates in Rhode Island cost extra to renew as compared to regular license plates.

He’s talked to a few people about it.

“And [nobody] he’s talked with has been able to either,” according to a State House press release.

“In essence, your vanity plate – which may have your name on it, or some collection of letters with a special meaning to you – is no different from the ordinary, everyday letters and numbers plates distributed by the Division of Motor Vehicles,” said Senator Lombardi. “Once the plate is made special for you, and you have paid the initial extra fee, I can’t see any reason to have to keep paying another extra fee at every renewal time.”

For specialty license plates, it makes sense to charge more since the renewal fee includes funds to support charitable organizations associated with the plate, such as the Ribbon of Hope plate that supports the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation, Lombardi said.

Lombardi has now introduced legislation scrapping the extra $60 fee charged every time a vanity plate is renewed. The initial $60 fee would remain, but after that, a driver would be billed just the standard rate. The bill would also get rid of the extra $34 fee charged for motorcycle vanity plates.

We seem to be able to find ways to get more money out of our residents. I think it’s time we find ways to give them a break,” said Senator Lombardi.

According to the Senate Fiscal Office, Rhode Island derives about $1.6 million in additional revenue each year from extra fee that accompanies vanity plate registration renewals.

“I would rather see that $1.6 million remain in motorists’ pockets,” said Senator Lombardi. “I would imagine that money would find its way back into the economy, and that would probably do more good for our state’s fiscal health than giving it to the state to spend.”