What's happening
This bill authorizes the DMV to create fee-free gift cards for purchasing or renewing distinctive and special license plates.
Why it matters
Expands access to specialty license plates. by allowing people to purchase or gift pre-paid cards specifically for distinctive and special number plates, potentially making it easier to give these as presents or incentives.
Consumer protection focus. The bill mandates that no extra fees—such as issuance, service, dormancy, or inactivity fees—can ever be charged on these DMV gift cards, ensuring the full value is retained and used for its intended purpose.
Simplifies the plate purchasing process. By enabling gift cards for license plate fees, the legislation could streamline both new applications and renewals, reducing barriers for individuals who want to support charitable or commemorative plate programs.
Potential to boost state revenues for plate programs. Increased gift card usage may lead to more specialty plate purchases, which often support specific causes or organizations, thus potentially increasing funding for associated programs.
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Who cares
Headline styles
License Plate Gift Cards
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.1208
- Referred to transportation
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.837
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Gift Cards for License Plates
In Assembly Committee · Ways And Means · Sponsor Sandy Galef
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1008
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 6, 2017
Introduced by Sen. ROBACH -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to authorizing the commissioner of motor vehicles to establish gift cards for distinctive and special number license plates
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 404-oo of the vehicle and traffic law, as added by chapter 406 of the laws of 2006, is amended to read as follows:
§ 404-oo. Deposit of service charges for distinctive license plates; issuance of gift cards. 1. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of this chapter or of any other law, the first six thousand dollars of service charges collected for issuance of distinctive license plates established pursuant to this article on or after the effective date of this section and, unless otherwise specified, any amounts in excess of such six thousand dollars, shall be deposited to the credit of the department of motor vehicles distinctive plate development fund established pursuant to section ninety-five-g of 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.
2. The commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations establishing gift cards for distinctive and special number license plates. Such gift cards shall be redeemable upon presentation to the commissioner with an application for the issuance or renewal of distinctive and/or special number license plates established pursuant to this article. No fee shall be charged for the issuance of such gift cards, nor shall any fees, including but not limited to service fees and dormancy or inactivity fees, be imposed upon such gift cards. For the purposes of this subdivision, the following terms shall have the following meanings: "dormancy or inactivity fee" shall mean a fee for non-use of, or inac-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02411-01-7
S. 1008 2
tivity on, a gift card; "gift card" shall mean a card, code or other device issued to a person on a prepaid basis in a specified amount in exchange for payment, and which is redeemable upon presentation to the commissioner with an application for the issuance or renewal of distinctive and/or special number license plates established pursuant to this article; and "service fee" shall mean a periodic fee for holding or using a gift card.
§ 2. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to authorizing the commissioner of motor vehicles to establish gift cards for distinctive and special number license plates
Purpose or general idea of bill
The purpose of this legislation is to authorize the Commissioner of Motor Vehicle to establish gift cards for distinctive and vanity license plates.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. Section 404-00 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law is amended to read as follows:
§ 404-00. Deposit of service charges for distinctive license plates; issuance of gift cards. The old language has become '1.' and the new language is '2.' and reads as follows: The commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations establishing gift cards for distinctive and special number license plates. Such gift cards shall be redeemable upon presentation to the commissioner with an application for the issuance or renewal of distinctive and/or special number license plates established pursuant to this article. No fee shall be charged for the issuance of such gift cards, nor shall any fees, including but not limited to services fees and dormancy or inactivity fees, be imposed upon such gift cards. For the purposes of this subdivision, the following terms shall have the following meanings: 'dormancy or inactivity fee' means a fee for non-use or, or inactivity on, a gift card; 'gift card' means a card, code or other device issued to a person on a prepaid basis in a specified amount in exchange for payment, and which is redeemable upon presentation to the commissioner with an application for the issuance or renewal of distinctive and/or special number license plates, and 'service fee' means a periodic fee for holding or using a gift card.
Section 2. Establishes the effective date.
Justification
This bill requires the Commissioner of Motor Vehicle promulgate rules and regulations so that gift cards may be sold in the State for custom and vanity license plates. Similar gift cards are already allowed in the State for camping permits, and Empire Passports which are used for entrance into New York State parks. Gift cards for camping permits may be used for anything from golf reservations and greens fees to the purchase of firewood or boat rentals, in addition to reserving camping sites. Gift cards for camping as well as the Empire Passports are even advertised for sale on the website for the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
Thus, there is a precedent set within the State to allow for the sale of gift cards. Vanity and custom plates are popular, so it is anticipated that gift cards will be purchased as soon as they are advertised. Allowing for the purchase of gift cards for such plates encourages the sale of these plates, thereby increasing revenue to the State.
Prior legislative history
2016 referred to Rules
Fiscal implications
It is anticipated that this State will collect additional revenue due to the enactment of this legislation.
Effective date
This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.