What's happening
This bill prohibits the sale or giveaway of license plate frames that obscure or distort license plates in New York State.
Why it matters
Shifts responsibility to sellers and promoters. The bill targets not only individuals but also businesses and organizations, making it illegal to sell, offer, or give away license plate frames that could obscure or distort license plates, increasing accountability in the supply chain.
Defines 'covered license plate frame' broadly. The prohibition applies to any material—glass, plastic, artificial, or synthetic—that can hide, obscure, or distort a license plate or its image, potentially affecting the design and marketing of many decorative or protective frames.
Enables local enforcement and penalties. The law empowers any municipality or political subdivision to enforce the prohibition and collect civil penalties (up to $500 per violation), encouraging local action and creating a financial deterrent for violators.
Impacts aftermarket and promotional industries. Retailers, car accessory stores, and companies using branded plate frames for marketing would need to review and possibly discontinue certain products, which could affect business practices and advertising methods in New York State.
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Who cares
Auto accessory retailers and wholesalers
The bill would prohibit selling or offering covered license plate frames that conceal or obscure plates or distort recorded or photographic images of them.
Businesses distributing promotional auto accessories
Giving away covered license plate frames as a retail or wholesale promotion would also be prohibited.
Municipalities and locally designated enforcement authorities
Designated authorities could bring actions to recover civil penalties of up to $500 per violation.
Headline styles
Ban Covered Plate Frames
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to economic development
- Referred to economic development
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
337
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. STECK -- read once and referred to the Committee on Economic Development
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to prohibiting the sale of covered license plate frames
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The general business law is amended by adding a new section 391-u to read as follows:
§ 391-u. Sale or promotional distribution of covered license plate frames. 1. No person, firm, corporation, partnership, association, limited liability company, or other entity shall sell or offer to sell or give away, as either a retail or wholesale promotion, a covered license plate frame within New York state.
2. For purposes of this section, "covered license plate frame" means any glass or plastic material, artificial or synthetic material or substance that conceals or obscures a license plate or that distorts a recorded or photographic image of such license plate.
3. Any person, firm, corporation, partnership, association, limited liability company, or other entity that violates the provisions of this section by selling, offering to sell, or giving away as either a retail or wholesale promotion, a covered license plate frame shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than five hundred dollars per violation, recoverable in an action by any enforcement authority designated by any municipality or political subdivision.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03376-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.