Prohibits any obstruction of the view of the distinctive number and the identifying marks on the number plate of a motor vehicle

BILL NUMBER:S6558A

Title of bill

An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to maintenance of motor vehicle number plates

Purpose

Prohibits the obstruction of the distinguishing number or other identification marks on a license plate.

Summary of provisions

This bill amends section 402.1(b) of the Vehicle and Traffic Law to allow obstruction of a license plate so long as the distinctive number or other identifying marks as prescribed by the commissioner can be viewed.

Justification

Throughout the State it is common to find license plate holders on vehicles, and it is almost unheard of for a car to leave a dealer's lot without a license plate holder displaying the dealership's name. However as the law is written today this common practice is illegal. Current law makes it a violation to use a license plate holder even if it does not obstruct any identifying marks on the license plate. As a result many New Yorkers have received tickets and paid fines for using license plates holders not knowing they were doing anything wrong. This bill would continue to protect the public by prohibiting the obstruction of license plate numbers or other identifying information but would permit the use of license plates holders that do not obstruct the view of these identifiers and thus cause no harm.

Legislative history

New Bill.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This bill shall take effect immediately.