What's happening
This bill eliminates service fees for veterans' distinctive license plates and waives fees for long-term veterans organization members.
Why it matters
Eliminating the $10 service charge for veterans’ distinctive plates reduces out-of-pocket costs for veterans, making it easier for them to display recognition of their service. This change could encourage more veterans to apply for these plates, increasing public acknowledgment of military service.
Waiving the service charge for long-term veterans organization members (5+ years) supports sustained membership and involvement in veterans’ groups. This incentivizes ongoing participation, which can strengthen community ties and support networks for veterans.
By removing extra fees, the bill addresses a potential financial barrier for lower-income veterans and those on fixed incomes. This could help ensure equitable access to the honor and benefits associated with veterans’ license plates.
The legislation may reduce minor revenue for the state from service fees, but signals a policy shift toward recognizing and easing administrative burdens for veterans. This reflects a broader commitment to honoring veterans beyond ceremonial gestures.
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Who cares
Veterans seeking distinctive license plates
The bill would eliminate the additional one-time $10 service charge for plates covered by the amended provisions while retaining regular registration fees.
Veterans organization members
Applicants with five or more years of membership would receive a waiver of the $10 service charge for their organization's special plates, while proof of current membership and annual verification would remain required.
Department of Motor Vehicles
The bill would change plate-fee collection requirements and remove a provision allocating up to $5,000 from service-charge funds to offset production costs for plates under section 404-v.
Headline styles
End Veteran Plate Fees
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
20 Co-sponsors
2 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to transportation
- Held for consideration in transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5554
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 13, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. BRABENEC -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to discontinuing service fees for distinctive license plates issued to veterans
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. 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 service charge of ten dollars shall be charged for such plate].
§ 2. 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 additional one-time service charge of ten dollars shall be charged for such plate].
§ 3. 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 additional one-time service charge of ten dollars shall be charged for such plate].
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08064-02-9
A. 5554 2
§ 4. 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 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].
§ 5. 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 one of this article[, provided, however, that an additional one-time service charge of ten dollars shall be charged for such plate].
§ 6. Subdivision 4 of section 404-w of the vehicle and traffic law, as added by chapter 493 of the laws of 2005, is 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 additional one time service charge of ten dollars shall be charged for such plate].
§ 7. Subdivision 1-a of section 404 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 105 of the laws of 2017, is amended to read as follows:
1-a. The commissioner may issue special number plates to applicants who are members of veterans organizations in the same manner as other number plates are issued pursuant to this article. Such special number plates shall be issued only upon (a) payment of a one-time service charge of ten dollars in addition to the regular registration fee prescribed by section four hundred one of this article, provided that such service charge shall be waived for any applicant who has been a member of the veterans organization for five or more years, and (b) submission of proof, satisfactory to the commissioner, that the applicant is presently a member of the veterans organization for which such plate is requested. 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, four hundred four-aa, or four hundred four-dd of this article.
§ 8. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
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.