ALBANY – Gov. Andrew Cuomo's administration signaled Thursday it is open to rolling back its much-debated plan to require drivers with older license plates to pay $25 for new ones.

State Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Mark Schroeder issued a statement vowing to work with the state Legislature to come up with a new process for assessing aging plates amid continuing backlash from lawmakers of both parties.

Lawmakers have held events across the state criticizing Cuomo's administration for the plan, which would force drivers with decade-old license plates to turn them in and pay the fee for new ones, even if the old ones remain in good condition.

The plan, which the DMV announced last week, is set to take effect in April.

It had been expected to affect 3 million drivers the next two years, generating $75 million in revenue for the state.

But Schroeder suggested it may be significantly altered, meaning the mandatory surrendering of plates could apply to far fewer drivers.

"The 10-year-life replacement program does not go into effect until next April so we have time to work with the Legislature to explore alternatives," Schroeder said. "We support reducing costs wherever possible."

Cuomo, lawmakers point fingers

The apparent walk-back comes after Cuomo has pushed back against the legislative criticism in recent days, trying to point blame at lawmakers for raising the fee for new plates to $25 in 2009.

But the 2009 law says the fee is "not to exceed" $25, suggesting the Cuomo administration could reduce it without approval from lawmakers.

And the law does not require old plates to be turned in every 10 years.

Cuomo, pointing to industry standards that suggest plates have an expected life span of 10 years, has said it's necessary to ensure the plates are in good condition as the state expands cashless tolling to the entire Thruway system next year.

For cashless tolling, cameras capture photos of passing vehicles' license plates and bill the owner in the mail.

Call for hearings on the plan

Cuomo has suggested lawmakers knocking the plan are being "disingenuous."

Schroeder's statement continued with that line of criticism, daring lawmakers to return to Albany for a special session to reduce the fee.

"The governor would like to lower the fee," Schroeder said. "If the legislators are sincere and want to lower the fee immediately, although they haven't in the past decade, the governor has made clear he invites them back for a special session to do it."

Neither Cuomo nor Schroeder have offered an explanation for not reducing the fee unilaterally.

Earlier Thursday, Sen. James Tedisco, a Schenectady County Republican, called on the Legislature to hold hearings on the plan.

Scott Reif, a spokesman for Senate Republicans, said the "fee needs to go."

"The governor is playing political games and ignoring the fact that he could eliminate this fee today if that's what he truly wanted to do," Reif said.

The Cuomo administration is continuing to host an online vote to select the design of the new license plate, which will launch in April.

The vote is open through Monday.

JCAMPBELL1@gannett.com

More:Criticism of $25 license-plate fee is 'disingenuous,' Andrew Cuomo says

More:$25 for a new license plate? How lawmakers think they can stop New York's latest fee

More:Which of these license plates should be New York's next one? You can vote