The New York state

calls it “Empire Gold,” but many drivers lining up to buy new license plates next year may be reminded of the old yellow ones they had on their cars between 1973 and 1986.

These plates — unveiled Tuesday by the DMV — won’t share the price of the older ones as the change is designed to raise $129 million in general fund revenue over two years.

Beginning April 1, the state will require new license plates for every one of the estimated 10 million cars, trucks, trailers and ATVs registered in the state at a cost of $25 — a $10 increase over the current cost. If you want to keep your same license plate number, it will cost another $20.

In September, the state increased driver’s license and registration fees 25 percent.

The governor’s office has said the new licenses could make $129 million for the cash-starved state, which has a projected budget deficit next year nearing $5 billion. The legislature last spring approved a measure authorizing the license plate plan.

Nearly 57,000 people have signed an online petition to protest the new license plan by St. Lawrence County Clerk Patricia Ritchie.

Oswego County Clerk George Williams has also mounted a petition drive against the new plates.

“The county clerk has failed to provide any solution to the state’s budget crisis and the revenue that this program would bring in,” said Morgan Hook, a spokesman for Gov. David Paterson.

The DMV and the governor’s office says reissuing plates is important for overall safety and law enforcement because plate visibility tends to decrease over time.