What's happening
This bill allows hearing impaired individuals to obtain special license plates and licenses indicating their hearing impairment without extra fees.
Why it matters
Improves Emergency and Law Enforcement Interactions. By allowing hearing impaired individuals to have license plates and driver’s licenses clearly marked with their status, first responders and police are more likely to recognize communication barriers quickly, potentially preventing misunderstandings or escalation during traffic stops or emergencies.
Reduces Administrative and Financial Barriers. The legislation ensures that hearing impaired individuals do not face extra fees for obtaining these specialized plates or licenses, removing an economic obstacle and promoting equitable access to identification features that could enhance their safety.
Standardizes Proof and Process. The bill requires the Department of Motor Vehicles, in consultation with the Department of Health, to establish clear regulations for verifying hearing impairment, which helps ensure consistency and fairness in who can access these designations.
Promotes Visibility and Advocacy. Making hearing impairment more visible in everyday situations may raise public awareness, reduce stigma, and encourage broader recognition of the unique needs of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community in public spaces and government systems.
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Who cares
Drivers with hearing impairments
They could request plates bearing “HI” and licenses marked “HEARING IMPAIRED,” with proof of hearing impairment and no added fees for those designations.
New York State Department of Motor Vehicles
The agency would issue the requested plates and license markings and waive fees for duplicate or amended licenses requested solely to add the statement before renewal.
New York State Department of Health
Its commissioner would be consulted on regulations determining hearing impairment and the proof applicants must submit.
Headline styles
Special Plates for Hearing Impaired
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 45
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1377
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 9, 2017
Introduced by Sen. LITTLE -- 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 licenses and registration number plates for the hearing impaired
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section 404-a-1 to read as follows:
§ 404-a-1. Registration of motor vehicles of hearing impaired persons. 1. The commissioner shall, upon application therefor, issue distinctive number plates for the motor vehicle or motor vehicles primarily operated by a hearing impaired person. Such distinctive plates shall conform to the requirements of section four hundred one of this article, but shall bear the letters "HI".
2. The commissioner shall issue sets of number plates to hearing impaired persons pursuant to subdivision one of this section upon submission of proof of hearing impairment. Such proof shall be as determined by regulations promulgated by the commissioner in consultation with the commissioner of health.
3. The application for registration and hearing impaired number plates shall be accompanied only by the required fee otherwise required to be paid for vehicle registration.
§ 2. Subdivision 1 of section 504 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new paragraph (a-2) to read as follows:
(a-2) Every license or renewal thereof issued to an applicant who is hearing impaired, as determined by regulations promulgated by the commissioner in consultation with the commissioner of health, shall, upon his or her request and submission of proof of hearing impairment, have prominently imprinted thereon the statement "HEARING IMPAIRED". The commissioner shall not require fees for the issuance of such licenses or renewal thereof to persons requesting a hearing impaired statement which
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00667-01-7
S. 1377 2
are different from fees otherwise required; provided, however, that notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the commissioner shall not require fees for such duplication or amendment of a licenses prior to its renewal if such duplication or amendment was solely for the purpose of adding a hearing impaired statement to such license.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law. Provided, that, effective immediately, any actions necessary to implement the provisions of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be completed on or before such date.
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 licenses and registration number plates for the hearing impaired
Purpose
Provides for issuance, upon application therefore, of distinctive drivers licenses and number plates to persons who are hearing impaired.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends vehicle and traffic law by adding a new section 404-a-1 to: (1) allow the commissioner to issue distinctive number plates, upon application, for motors vehicles registered to hearing impaired persons to bear the letters "HI"; (2) require proof of hearing impairment as determined by regulations promulgated by the commissioner in consultation with the commissioner of health prior to issuing plates; and (3) require the fee otherwise required to be paid for vehicle registration to accompany registration for hearing impaired plates.
Section 2 amends subdivision 1 of section 504 of vehicle and traffic law by adding new paragraph a-2, which permits people determined as hearing impaired to have that statement printed on their license, at no additional fee than otherwise normally required.
Section 3 provides for the effective date.
Justification
This legislation allows for distinctive license plates to be issued for motor vehicles registered to hearing impaired persons as well as noted on their drivers license. Distinctively marked drivers licenses and license plates will assist in alerting law enforcement, emergency services, and any others approaching the vehicle or viewing the individual's license that they are hearing impaired. This identification of hearing impairment will assist police or first responders in understanding the condition more quickly, and allow them to alter their mode of communication as required.
Legislative history
2015-16: S.6742 Referred to Transportation.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date when the bill becomes law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.