Requires the registration and issuance of license plates for bicycles with electric assist and electric scooters that can exceed twenty-eight miles per hour with battery assistance up to and exceeding seven hundred fifty watts.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
9362
IN SENATE
March 5, 2026
___________
Introduced by Sen. ZELLNER -- 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 requiring
license plates for certain bicycles with electric assist and electric
scooters
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 1242 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by
2 adding a new subdivision 14 to read as follows:
3 14. (a) Any bicycle with electric assist that can exceed twenty-eight
4 miles per hour with battery assistance up to and exceeding seven hundred
5 fifty watts shall be registered and issued a license plate by the
6 department.
7 (b) Such license plates shall be of such material, form, design and
8 dimensions and contain or set forth such distinguishing number or other
9 identification marks as the commissioner shall prescribe provided,
10 however, that there shall be at all times a marked contrast between the
11 color of the number plates and that of the numerals or letters thereon,
12 and provided further that no bicycle with electric assist shall display
13 the number plates of more than one state at a time, nor shall any plate
14 be used other than those issued by the commissioner.
15 (c) Each such license plate shall be conspicuously displayed on the
16 rear of the bicycle with electric assist.
17 (d) The fee for such license plates shall be a nominal fee determined
18 by the commissioner.
19 § 2. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section
20 1290 to read as follows:
21 § 1290. Registration of electric scooters. 1. Any electric scooter
22 that can exceed twenty-eight miles per hour with battery assistance up
23 to and exceeding seven hundred fifty watts shall be registered and
24 issued a license plate by the department.
25 2. Such license plates shall be of such material, form, design and
26 dimensions and contain or set forth such distinguishing number or other
27 identification marks as the commissioner shall prescribe, provided,
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13950-01-5
S. 9362 2
1 however, that there shall be at all times a marked contrast between the
2 color of the number plates and that of the numerals or letters thereon,
3 and provided further that no electric scooter shall display the number
4 plates of more than one state at a time, nor shall any plate be used
5 other than those issued by the commissioner.
6 3. Each such license plate shall be conspicuously displayed on the
7 rear of the electric scooter.
8 4. The fee for such license plates shall be a nominal fee determined
9 by the commissioner.
10 § 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
11 have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
12 repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of
13 this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
14 on or before such effective date.
