Requires license plates for bicycles, bicycles with electric assist and electric scooters in New York city; requires a one time registration; requires a registration fee for such license plates.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A7916
SPONSOR: Cunningham TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requiring
license plates for bicycles, bicycles with electric assist and electric
scooters
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To require all bicycles, bicycles with electric assist and electric
scooters in New York City to have a license plate
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends the title of article 34 of the vehicle and traffic law.
Section 2 amends the vehicle and traffic law by adding a new section
1244 that requires bicycles, bicycles with electric assist and electric
scooters in New York City to have a license issued by the Department of
Motor Vehicles. The license plate will have a distinctive number
assigned to it that corresponds to a certificate of registration. The
design of the license plate will be determined by the department and
shall be conspicuously displayed.
Section 3 provides for an immediate effective date.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):
N/A
JUSTIFICATION:
On Apr. 25, 1901, New York Governor Benjamin Odell Jr. signed into law a
bill requiring owners of motor vehicles to register with the state and
have a license plate. It was the first state in the nation to require
license plates for automobiles.
As bicycles, e-bikes and e-scooters grow in popularity, it is time for
New York to once again lead the country by requiring these types of
vehicles to have a distinctive license plate issued by the DMV. Opera-
tors of bicycles, e-bikes and e-scooters have all the same rights and
are subject to all of the duties and regulations applicable to drivers
of motor vehicles. For some reason, these rules do not extend to license
plates, which are a simple way to better regulate and enforce the law
for the growing number of bicycles, e-bikes and e-scooters in New York
City.
Support is growing for license plates for bicycles, e-bikes and e-scoot-
ers. "I think ideas like license plates certainly need to be consid-
ered," said former Mayor de Blasio. "We're going into a new world where
more and more people are. biking - and that's great - but in some ways
we have to catch up with that reality, so I think that's the kind of
idea that now needs to be explored."
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-22: S7206 - Referred to Transportation
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.
