Provides an exemption from registration and special plate fees for severely disabled veterans; includes veterans rated as 60% disabled by the US department of veterans affairs; removes the requirement of service in a time of war.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6440
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 4, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. RAJKUMAR -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to registration
and special plates for severely disabled veterans
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 404-a of the vehicle and traffic
2 law, as amended by chapter 445 of the laws of 2024, is amended to read
3 as follows:
4 3. Registration of vehicles owned by severely disabled veterans. The
5 commissioner shall assign to such motor vehicles, including any vans or
6 pick-up trucks used for transporting handicapped veterans which are not
7 used for commercial purposes and which are owned by such veterans or a
8 not-for-profit corporation serving such veterans, a distinctive number
9 and issue and deliver in such manner as the commissioner may prescribe
10 to the owner a certification of registration, in such form as the
11 commissioner shall prescribe and two number plates, called disabled
12 veteran plates. Said severely disabled veteran plates shall conform to
13 the requirements of section four hundred one of this article, but shall
14 bear distinctive marks to distinguish them from number plates to be
15 issued to other persons, qualifying under this article. The commissioner
16 [in his discretion,] may exercise the discretion to issue, for any
17 registration year, only one plate as a set for a motor vehicle, in which
18 event a set of severely disabled veteran plates for a motor vehicle
19 shall consist of one plate. Where a severely disabled veteran owns more
20 than one vehicle and such vehicle or vehicles is or are used by severely
21 disabled members of the owner's family who reside with the owner, the
22 commissioner shall issue one set of plates for each additional vehicle
23 used by such severely disabled veteran, provided that such user quali-
24 fies as a severely disabled veteran in the manner required by this
25 section. For purposes of this subdivision, the term "severely disabled
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10520-01-5
A. 6440 2
1 veteran" shall mean [a veteran as defined in section eighty-five of the
2 civil service law,] any member of the armed forces of the United States
3 who served and was honorably discharged or released under conditions
4 other than dishonorable discharge from such service, and whose disabili-
5 ty qualifies [him] such person as a severely disabled person within the
6 meaning of such term as defined in subdivision four of this section; or
7 who was rated sixty percent or more disabled by the United States
8 department of veterans affairs.
9 § 2. Section 404-a of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding
10 a new subdivision 6-a to read as follows:
11 6-a. Fee exemptions for severely disabled veterans. Notwithstanding
12 subdivision six of this section and the fees prescribed or permitted by
13 section four hundred one of this article, there shall be no charge for
14 the issuance of a number plate pursuant to this section to a severely
15 disabled veteran, nor shall there be imposed an additional service
16 charge for the issuance of such plate to a severely disabled veteran.
17 Furthermore, upon the issuance of a distinctive plate pursuant to this
18 section, such severely disabled veteran shall be exempt from the payment
19 of any fees relating to the registration or renewal thereof as
20 prescribed by section four hundred one of this article.
21 § 3. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
22 ing the date on which it shall have become a law.
