STATE OF NEW YORK
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4743
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 12, 2025
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Introduced by Sen. GALLIVAN -- 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 creating a
distinctive plate for active duty military service members
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new
2 section 404-ff to read as follows:
3 § 404-ff. Distinctive plates for active duty military service members.
4 1. Any active duty military service member serving in the armed forces
5 of the United States shall, upon request, be issued a license plate
6 bearing the words "U.S. Military". Application for said license plate
7 shall be filed with the commissioner in such form and detail as the
8 commissioner shall prescribe.
9 2. The distinctive plate authorized in subdivision one of this section
10 shall be issued upon proof, satisfactory to the commissioner, that the
11 applicant is an active duty military service member. The branch of mili-
12 tary service shall also be indicated on the license plate either in
13 words or by the insignia of the branch served in.
14 3. A distinctive plate issued pursuant to this section shall be issued
15 in the same manner as other number plates upon payment of the regular
16 registration fee prescribed by section four hundred one of this article
17 provided, however, that an additional one time service charge of ten
18 dollars shall be charged for such plate.
19 4. Nothing contained herein shall require the issuance of a special
20 number plate under this section unless the commissioner is satisfied
21 that the aggregate amount of annual service charges collected pursuant
22 to subdivision three of this section will be sufficient to recover the
23 costs of the design and manufacture of such special plates.
24 § 2. 1. A distinctive plate established pursuant to section 404-ff of
25 the vehicle and traffic law, as added by section one of this act, shall
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07812-01-5
S. 4743 2
1 only be designed, produced and issued upon the delivery to the depart-
2 ment of motor vehicles of a surety bond in the amount of six thousand
3 dollars, which shall be executed by a surety company authorized by the
4 department of financial services to transact business in this state.
5 Provided, however, that if the commissioner of motor vehicles shall have
6 received prior to plate design, production and issuance at least two
7 hundred orders for such distinctive plate together with the additional
8 annual service charge applicable to each such order, which shall be
9 non-refundable, no such surety bond shall be required. All service
10 charges collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited pursuant
11 to the provisions of section 404-oo of the vehicle and traffic law to
12 the credit of the department of motor vehicles distinctive plate devel-
13 opment fund established by section 95-g of the state finance law and
14 shall be used for the design, production, advertising and distribution
15 of distinctive license plates in accordance with such section 95-g.
16 2. If, upon the expiration of two years following the date upon which
17 distinctive plates in the series are first available for sale two
18 hundred or more sets of such plates are sold, a bond delivered pursuant
19 to this section shall be discontinued. If fewer than two hundred sets of
20 such plates are sold by such time, the department of motor vehicles
21 shall be entitled to recover against the bond in an amount proportionate
22 to such shortfall.
23 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that
24 section one of this act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth
25 day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addi-
26 tion, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for
27 the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to
28 be made and completed on or before such effective date.
