Creates distinctive license plates for the United States army 10th mountain division

Section 2 provides, that distinctive plates issued pursuant to this new section shall only be designed, produced, and issued, up on the delivery to the Department of Motor Vehicles of a surety bond in the amount of $6,000, which shall be executed by a surety company authorized y the Department of Financial Services to transact business in this state. Provided, however that if the commissioner shall have received 200 orders for such distinctive plate together with the additional annual service charge, no such surety bond is required. All service charges collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited pursuant to the provisions of Section 404-oo to the credit of the Department of Motor Vehicles Distinctive Plate Development Fund. This section also provides for the discontinuance of surety bonds if 200 or more sets of plates are sold in the series during the two year following the date upon which the plates were first made available for sale. If fewer than 200 sets of plates are sold during the first two years of sale, the Department of Motor Vehicles shall be entitled to recover against the bond an in amount proportionate to such shortfall.

Section 3 provides the effective date.

Existing law

Article 14 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law relates to the registration of motor vehicles. The enumerated sections of this article provide for distinctive license plates and the registration and issuance of license plates based on particular circumstances.

Section 404 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law provides for the issuance of special license plates. This section provides,t he commissioner may issue special number plates to applicants therefor in the same manner as other number plates are issued pursuant to this article. Such special number plates shall be issued only upon payment of an annual service charge of thirty-one dollars and twenty-five cents in addition to the regular fee prescribed by section 401 of this article.

Section 404(1-a) of the Vehicle and Traffic Law further provides for the issuance of special number plates to applicants who are members of veterans organizations. These plate shall be issued in the same manner as other plates, but shall be issued only upon (a) payment of the onetime service charge of $10 in addition to the regular registration fee

Section 404-oo of the Vehicle and Traffic Law provides for the deposit of service charges for distinctive license plates to the Department of Motor Vehicles Distinctive Plate Development Fund established pursuant to the State Finance Law and shall be used for the production, design, advertising, and distribution of such distinctive license plates established pursuant to this article on or after the effective date of this section.

Section 95-g of the State Finance Law establishes the Department of Motor Vehicles Distinctive Plate Development Fund consisting of all revenues received pursuant to the provisions of Section 404-oo of the Vehicle and Traffic Law and all money appropriated, credits, or transferred thereto from any other fund or source pursuant to law. Moneys of the fund are expended only for the design, production, advertising, and distribution of distinctive license plates established pursuant to Article 14 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law.

Justification

From their battlefield inception in 1945, to the present, the 10th Mountain Division has maintained its status as one of the most unique combat forces in American military history. In 1985, the light infantry Division was reactivated at Fort Drum, New York in Jefferson County. All soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division are prepared to deploy anywhere in the world. Whether their missions were in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm, the humanitarian Operation Restore Hope in Somalia, East Africa, assisting in hurricane and ice storm relief efforts here at home, or the most recent deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, to name a few, the Division has always shown their technical and tactical proficiency in accomplishing their operations.

This legislation will recognize the 10th Mountain Division and their unique training in mountain and winter warfare, which has brought them great success and has helped advance world peace. Any member or supporter of the United States Army 10th Mountain Division residing in this state will be able to upon request be issued a license plate bearing the 10th Mountain Division insignia and the words "Member of the United States Army 10th Mountain Division," or "Supporter of the United States Army 10th Mountain Division."

Applications for these distinctive plates will be filed with the commissioner and no license plate, bearing the words "Member of the United States Army 10th Mountain Division," may be issued to an applicant without verification that the applicant is a member of the 10th Mountain Division of the United States Army. However, both distinctive plates issued will be administered in the same manner as other number plates upon payment of the regular registration fee with an additional annual service charge of $20.00 for such plate. This annual service fee will be deposited into the department of motor vehicles distinctive plate development fund and be used for production, design, advertising and marketing of distinctive license plates. Proceeds from the sale of these license plates in excess of $2,500 annually shall be paid by the state comptroller to the 10th Mountain Division Foundation for their scholarship program in support of financing the division's members' and family members' pursuit of full time undergraduate or technical education.

The legislation will honor our veterans from the United States Army 10th Mountain Division and support their scholarship program. By providing members and supporters with distinctive license plates we recognize these particular veterans' immutable service to our great nation and help sustain the scholarship program for 10th Mountain Division members and family members. These veterans deserve our acknowledgment and appreciation and this bill achieves that objective.

Legislative history

2013-2014: S.4062 - Passed Senate 2011-2012: S.5233 - Referred to Transportation

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.