Local lawmaker, Rhode Islanders react to new license plate and fee

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Rhode Island state Rep. Edward Cardillo and community members explained Tuesday that they are not impressed with the new license plate design, and oppose an $8 fee.

Cardillo is finalizing a bill that would waive the $8 fee to be put in place this summer.

“I don’t believe I should have to pay the eight dollars for a new set of plates that are virtually the same,” explained Cardillo. “Rhode Islanders are always getting attacked with a dollar here, three dollars there, so why can’t we give something this small back to the taxpayer?”

Rhode Island residents told ABC 6 News Tuesday that they were underwhelmed by the chosen design.

“They basically just multiplied the wave and made it a little bit smaller,” said Providence resident Simon Sullivan. “It’s something that I think you should be able to opt out of, or at the very least should have that fee waived.”

Even past the fee, others felt as if there were better designs to represent their home state.

“I think we needed something a little peppier, something a little more specific to what Rhode Island is,” explained Rhode Islander Jane Allard. “The waves are the waves are the waves, but I think the other artists deserved a little more.”

Cardillo explained that the bill is still being written and finalized.