What's happening
The bill requires all bicycles advertised for sale or resale in New York to display a photo and at least the last four digits of the serial number.
Why it matters
Aims to deter bicycle theft and resale of stolen bikes. by making it harder to sell bicycles anonymously online or in-person, since sellers must publicly display a photo and part of the serial number.
Introduces a warning and penalty system for noncompliance. Sellers who don't follow the new rules first get a warning with compliance information. If they continue to violate the law, they may face civil penalties of up to $250 per noncompliant sale.
Clarifies responsibility for online sales. The obligation to include serial numbers and photos falls on individual "third party sellers" using online marketplaces, not on the marketplace operators themselves (e.g., eBay, Facebook Marketplace), which could influence how listings are monitored and enforced.
Potentially increases transparency for buyers. by allowing them to check a bicycle's serial number before purchase, which can help verify whether a bike is stolen or legitimate, supporting safer secondhand markets.
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Who cares
Bicycle shops and individual resellers
Resale ads for bicycles manufactured or assembled on or after January 1, 1989, would have to clearly display a bicycle photo and at least the last four digits of its identifying serial number.
Third-party online sellers
Sellers using online marketplaces would be covered by the bicycle sale and resale requirements, while marketplace owners and operators would be exempt.
New York secretary of state
The secretary would issue compliance warnings and could assess civil penalties of up to $250 per noncompliant point of sale for continued violations after a warning.
Headline styles
Require Serial Numbers in Ads
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Returned to assembly
- Passed senateVote 49–12
- 3rd reading cal.539
- Substituted for S1541A
- Referred to consumer protection
- Delivered to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading cal.32
- Returned to assembly
- Died in senate
- Referred to consumer protection
- Delivered to senate
Show 7 earlier actions
- Passed assembly
- Amended on third reading 852b
- Amended on third reading 852a
- Advanced to third reading cal.83
- Reported
- Reported referred to codes
- Referred to consumer affairs and protection
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.
List Bike Serial Numbers
Senate Floor Calendar · Sponsor Rachel May
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
852--B Cal. No. 83
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN, WEPRIN, COLTON, LEE, ALVAREZ, SANTABAR- BARA -- read once and referred to the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection -- reported and referred to the Committee on Codes -reported from committee, advanced to a third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place on the order of third reading -- again amended on third reading, ordered reprinted, retaining its place on the order of third reading
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to requiring bicycles advertised for sale or resale in New York state to have an identifying serial number
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1-a of section 391-c of the general business law, as added by chapter 6 of the laws of 1986, is amended and three new paragraphs (d), (e) and (f) are added to read as follows:
(a) No bicycle manufactured or assembled on or after January first, nineteen hundred eighty-nine shall be sold [or], offered for sale, or offered and advertised for resale in this state unless it has an identifying serial number that distinguishes that bicycle from all other bicycles of that same make and model permanently and visibly engraved or stamped in readily legible boldfaced figures at least one-eighth [inches] of an inch in height on the top surface of the top crossbar or of the uppermost cross support of the bicycle frame or on the head tube or on the toeplate not obstructed by the derailleur or gear wheels or on the crank hanger; or, on a label, shield or plate permanently affixed in any of the foregoing locations in such a manner that the serial number will be readily visible and that such label, plate or shield cannot be removed without being defaced or destroyed.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03270-05-5
(d) No bicycle manufactured or assembled on or after January first, nineteen hundred eighty-nine shall be advertised for resale in this state unless a photograph of the bicycle and at least the last four digits of its identifying serial number are clearly and conspicuously posted in such advertisement for sale.
(e) If any person or entity fails to comply with the requirements of this subdivision, the secretary of state shall issue such person or entity a warning, that includes but is not limited to, information on compliance with this subdivision. If the person or entity continues to fail to comply with the requirements of this subdivision subsequent to receiving such warning, the secretary of state may assess a civil penalty not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars per point of sale which fails to comply with the requirements of this subdivision.
(f) A third party seller using an online marketplace shall be considered a person or entity who offers for sale or offers and advertises for resale a bicycle covered by this section, provided however, the owner or operator of such online marketplace shall not be subject to the provisions of this section.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth 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.