What's happening
This bill allows Red Knights International Motorcycle Club members in New York to obtain special license plates for an added fee.
Why it matters
Creates a new opportunity for Red Knights International Motorcycle Club members to display their affiliation. , potentially strengthening group identity and visibility for a firefighter-based motorcycle club with a public safety mission.
Requires proof of club membership to obtain the special plates. , which helps ensure only legitimate members benefit and could help prevent misuse or misrepresentation.
Imposes an extra $30 annual fee for the plate. , channeling those funds into the state’s distinctive plate development fund, supporting the DMV’s ability to create and manage specialized plate programs without affecting general taxpayers.
Sets minimum demand and financial safeguards for the program’s launch. , requiring either a $6,000 surety bond or at least 200 prepaid orders before plates are designed and issued, reducing financial risk to the state and ensuring viable community interest before resources are committed.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Special Plates for Red Knights
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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
585
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by Sen. HELMING -- 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 issuance of distinctive plates for members of the Red Knights International Motorcycle Club
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-ff to read as follows:
§ 404-ff. Distinctive plates for members of the Red Knights International Motorcycle Club. 1. Any member of the Red Knights International Motorcycle Club residing in this state shall, upon request, be issued a license plate bearing the words "Red Knights International Motorcycle Club". Application for such license plate shall be filed with the commissioner in such form and detail as the commissioner shall prescribe.
2. The distinctive plate authorized pursuant to this section shall be issued upon proof, satisfactory to the commissioner, that the applicant is a member of the Red Knights International Motorcycle Club.
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 annual service charge of thirty dollars shall be charged for such plate.
§ 2. 1. A distinctive plate established pursuant to section 404-ff of the vehicle and traffic law as added by section one of this act shall only be designed, produced and issued upon the delivery to the department of motor vehicles of a surety bond in the amount of six thousand dollars, which shall be executed by a surety company authorized by the department of financial services to transact business in this state.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01332-01-5
Provided, however, that if the commissioner of motor vehicles shall have received prior to plate design, production and issuance at least two hundred orders for such distinctive plate together with the additional annual service charge applicable to each such order, which shall be non-refundable, no such surety bond shall be required. All service charges collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited pursuant to the provisions of section 404-oo of the vehicle and traffic law to the credit of the department of motor vehicles distinctive plate development fund established by section 95-g of the state finance law and shall be used for the design, production, advertising and distribution of distinctive license plates in accordance with such section 95-g.
2. If, upon the expiration of two years following the date upon which distinctive plates in the series are first available for sale two hundred or more sets of such plates are sold, a bond delivered pursuant to this section shall be discontinued. If fewer than two hundred sets of such plates are sold by such time, the department of motor vehicles shall be entitled to recover against the bond in an amount proportionate to such shortfall.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that section one of this act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective 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 issuance of distinctive plates for members of the Red Knights International Motorcy- cle Club
Purpose
The purpose of this legislation is to allow members of the Red Knights International Motor Cycle Club to obtain distinctive license plates, acknowledging their service as firefighters.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: amends the vehicle and traffic law by adding a new section 404-ff to allow the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue distinctive plates to the Red Knights International Motor Cycle Club. A person requesting such plates must be a resident of New York State and an active member of the club. The plates shall be issued upon payment of the regular registration fee and an additional annual service charge of $30 shall be charged for each plate
Section 2: establishes bond process for the design and production of such distinctive plates.
Section 3: effective date.
Justification
The Red Knights International Motor Cycle Club is an internationally recognized fraternal organization with more than 9,000 members and 300 chapters, many of which are located in New York State. This club was established on October 12, 1982, as a result of the establishment of Blue Knights International, which was specific to law enforcement. Firefighters sacrifice their safety continuously to protect our communi- ties, and they felt it prudent that they also have an international motorcycle club. This legislation would allow for the issuance of a distinctive license plate for active members belonging to the Red Knights International Motor Cycle Club. These club members would like to display their pride as present and former New York Firefighters who are also proud motorcycle owners. This bill shows New York State's appreci- ation toward these particular individuals who bravely serve 6r have bravely served the residents of the state of New York.
Legislative history
2023-2024: S.6164 referred to Transportation/A.2290 referred to Trans- portation
2021-2022: A.881 referred to Transportation
2019-2020 A.8876 referred to Transportation
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.