What's happening
This bill eliminates additional service charges and renewal fees for special license plates and registration renewals for veterans and active duty military members in New York.
Why it matters
Reduces financial barriers for veterans and active duty military. by removing extra service charges and renewal fees for special or distinctive license plates, making it easier and less costly for them to access these benefits.
Expands eligibility and recognition. for both veterans and currently serving military members, allowing more individuals to demonstrate their service through special plates without additional expense.
Removes customization fees for military-related plates. , ensuring that no extra charges are imposed for personalized or distinctive plates linked to military service.
Eliminates state cost-recovery provisions tied to plate issuance. , signaling a policy shift that prioritizes honoring military service over recouping administrative expenses from service members and veterans.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Free Veteran License Plates
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Reported and committed to finance
- Referred to transportation
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to transportation
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.541
- 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.
No-Fee Veteran License Plates
In Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor William Colton
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4464
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 15, 2017
Introduced by Sen. JACOBS -- 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 the issuance of special number plates
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1-a of section 404 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 103 of the laws of 2016, is amended to read as follows:
1-a. The commissioner may issue special number and/or distinctive license plates to applicants who are members of veterans organizations or active duty military members in the same manner as other number plates are issued pursuant to this article. Such special number plates or distinctive plates shall be issued only upon (a) payment of [a onetime service charge of ten dollars in addition to] the regular registration fee prescribed by section four hundred one of this article, and (b) submission of proof, satisfactory to the commissioner, that the applicant is presently an active duty military member or a member of the veterans organization for which such plate is requested. No additional fees for customization of such plates shall be required. Such membership shall be verified annually by the applicant. Application for such plates shall be made in accordance with regulations promulgated by the commissioner with respect to the issuance of such plates. Provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall be deemed to supersede the provisions of section four hundred four-d, four hundred four-e, four hundred four-h, four hundred four-i, four hundred four-j, four hundred four-k, four hundred four-p or four hundred four-aa of this article.
§ 2. Subdivision 6 of section 401 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new paragraph c-1 to read as follows:
c-1. The provisions of this subdivision with respect to the payment of registration renewal fees shall not apply to a motor vehicle registra-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09506-03-7
S. 4464 2
tion renewed by an active duty military member or a qualified veteran. A qualified veteran is an individual who served on active duty in the United States army, navy, air force, marine corps, coast guard or the reserves thereof, or who served in active military service of the United States as a member of the army national guard, air national guard, New York guard or New York naval militia; who was released from active duty by general or honorable discharge.
§ 3. Subdivision 3 of section 404-h of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 415 of the laws of 2001, is amended to read as follows:
3. A distinctive plate issued pursuant to this section shall be issued in the same manner as other number plates upon payment of the regular registration fee prescribed by section four hundred one of this article provided, however, that [an additional one-time] no service charge [of ten dollars] shall be charged for such plate.
§ 4. Subdivision 4 of section 404-j of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 415 of the laws of 2001, is amended to read as follows:
4. Fee. A special plate and registration issued pursuant to this section shall be issued upon payment of the regular registration fee prescribed by section four hundred one of this article provided, however, that [an] no additional [one-time] service charge [of ten dollars] shall be charged for such plate.
§ 5. Subdivision 3 of section 404-v of the vehicle and traffic law, as added by chapter 389 of the laws of 2004, is amended to read as follows:
3. A distinctive plate issued pursuant to this section shall be issued in the same manner as other number plates upon payment of the regular registration fee prescribed by section four hundred one of this article, provided, however, that [an] no additional [one-time] service charge [of ten dollars] shall be charged for such plate. [Provided, however, that one year after the effective date of this section funds in the amount of five thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be available, shall be allocated from such funds to the department to offset costs associated with the production of such license plates.]
§ 6. Subdivision 3 of section 404-w of the vehicle and traffic law, as added by chapter 105 of the laws of 2005, is amended to read as follows:
3. A distinctive plate issued pursuant to this section shall be issued in the same manner as other number plates upon payment of the regular registration fee prescribed by section four hundred of this article, provided, however, that [an] no additional [one-time] service charge [of ten dollars] shall be charged for such plate.
§ 7. Subdivisions 4 and 5 of section 404-w of the vehicle and traffic law, as added by chapter 493 of the laws of 2005, are amended to read as follows:
4. A distinctive plate issued pursuant to this section shall be issued in the same manner as other number plates upon payment of the regular registration fee prescribed by section four hundred one of this article provided, however, that [an] no additional [one time] service charge [of ten dollars] shall be charged for such plate.
[5. Nothing contained herein shall require the issuance of a special number plate under this section unless the commissioner is satisfied that the aggregate amount of annual service charges collected pursuant to subdivision four of this section will be sufficient to recover the costs of the design and manufacture of such special plates.]
S. 4464 3
§ 8. Subdivision 3 of section 404-aa of the vehicle and traffic law, as added by chapter 103 of the laws of 2016, is amended to read as follows:
3. A distinctive plate issued pursuant to this section shall be issued in the same manner as other number plates upon payment of the regular registration fee prescribed by section four hundred one of this article; provided, however, that [an] no additional [one-time] service charge [of ten dollars] shall be charged for such plate.
§ 9. Subdivision 3 of section 404-d of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 415 of the laws of 2001, is amended to read as follows:
3. A distinctive plate issued pursuant to this section shall be issued in the same manner as other number plates upon payment of the regular registration fee prescribed by section four hundred one of this article provided, however, that [an] no additional [one-time] service charge [of ten dollars] shall be charged for such plate.
§ 10. Subdivision 3 of section 404-k of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 415 of the laws of 2001, is amended to read as follows:
3. A distinctive plate issued pursuant to this section shall be issued in the same manner as other number plates upon payment of the regular registration fee prescribed by section four hundred one of this article provided, however, that [an] no additional [one-time] service charge [of ten dollars] shall be charged for such plate.
§ 11. Subdivision 3 of section 404-i of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 486 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
3. A distinctive plate issued pursuant to this section shall be issued in the same manner as other number plates upon payment of the regular registration fee prescribed by section four hundred one of this article, provided, however, that no service charge or renewal fees shall be charged for such plate.
§ 12. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day 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 the issuance of special number plates
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill allows the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue distinctive plates to veterans and active duty service members of the United States military with an exemption from the one-time service fee of ten dollars and annual registration fees. Previously active duty service members were excluded from special number and distinctive plate status.
Summary of specific provisions
The bill amends the vehicle and traffic law by modifying subdivision 1-a of section 404 of the vehicle and traffic law, eliminating specific fees required to be collected by the commissioner of the department of motor vehicles. The bill amends subdivision 6 of section 401 c-1, specifying requirements of military service. The bill amends subdivision 3 of section 404-h, subdivision 4 of section 404-j, subdivision 3 of section 404-v, subdivision 3 of section 404-w, subdivision 4 and 5 of section 404-w, subdivision 3 of section 404-aa, subdivision 3 of section 404-aa, subdivision 3 of section 404-d, subdivision 3 of section 404-k, subdivision 3 of section 404-i, to exempt fees.
Justification
Currently veterans are charged as much as seventy dollars for initial license plate fees with annual renewal fees of thirty-one dollars. In recognition of their service, New York State should not charge veterans and military personnel for designating their veteran status on their license plates.
Prior legislative history
None.
Fiscal implications
TBD.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the 90th day 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.