STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7905
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 13, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sen. GOUNARDES -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, the vehicle and traffic law,
the penal law, the civil practice law and rules and the lien law, in
relation to enforcement of toll collection regulations and license
plate violations
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 6 of section 2985 of the public authorities
2 law, as added by chapter 379 of the laws of 1992, is amended to read as
3 follows:
4 6. a. An imposition of liability pursuant to this section shall be
5 based upon a preponderance of evidence as submitted. An imposition of
6 liability pursuant to this section shall not be deemed a conviction as
7 an operator and shall not be made part of the motor vehicle operating
8 record, furnished pursuant to section three hundred fifty-four of the
9 vehicle and traffic law, of the person upon whom such liability is
10 imposed nor shall it be used for insurance purposes in the provision of
11 motor vehicle insurance coverage.
12 b. Notwithstanding any provision of law, rule, or regulation to the
13 contrary, an imposition of liability pursuant to this section shall be
14 deemed a conviction as an operator and shall be made part of the motor
15 vehicle operating record, furnished pursuant to section three hundred
16 fifty-four of the vehicle and traffic law, of the person upon whom such
17 liability is imposed and shall be used for insurance purposes in the
18 provision of motor vehicle insurance coverage if an operator has unpaid
19 liabilities pursuant to this section from a series of convictions, not
20 arising out of the same incident, for covering or obscuring a license
21 plate two or more times within a period of five years in violation of
22 subparagraph (ii), (ii-a) or (iii) of paragraph (b) of subdivision one
23 of section four hundred two of the vehicle and traffic law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11467-01-5
S. 7905 2
1 § 2. Subdivision 4-h of section 510 of the vehicle and traffic law, as
2 added by section 5 of subpart A of part WW of chapter 56 of the laws of
3 2024, is amended to read as follows:
4 4-h. Suspension of registration for covering license plates with a
5 license plate cover or material appearing to be a number plate or
6 obscuring license plates with any material or substance. [(a)] Upon
7 receipt of a notification from a court or an administrative tribunal
8 that an owner of a motor vehicle has been convicted three or more times
9 within a period of five years of a violation of subparagraph (ii),
10 (ii-a) or (iii) of paragraph (b) of subdivision one of section four
11 hundred two of this chapter not arising out of the same incident, the
12 commissioner or the commissioner's agent may [suspend the registration
13 of the motor vehicle involved in such violation for a period of ninety
14 days] impose a vehicle identification number block to deny the registra-
15 tion, reregistration, renewal, replacement, or transfer of registration
16 of a vehicle until a tolling authority described in section two thousand
17 nine hundred eighty-five of the public authorities law advises, in such
18 form and manner as the commissioner shall prescribe, that notices of
19 liability provided pursuant to such section have been answered and that
20 any tolls, fees, or other charges associated with the vehicle and such
21 vehicle's vehicle identification number have been paid to such tolling
22 authority. The commissioner may, in the commissioner's discretion, deny
23 [a] an application for registration [or] , reregistration, renewal
24 [application to any other person for the same vehicle and may deny a
25 registration or renewal application], replacement, or transfer of regis-
26 tration for any other motor vehicle registered in the name of the appli-
27 cant where the commissioner has determined that such registrant's intent
28 has been to evade the purposes of this paragraph and where the commis-
29 sioner has reasonable grounds to believe that such registration, rereg-
30 istration, [or] renewal, replacement, or transfer of the registration
31 will have the effect of defeating the purposes of this paragraph. [Such
32 denial shall remain in effect only as long as the suspension entered
33 pursuant of this paragraph remains in effect.] Such vehicle identifica-
34 tion number block shall only remain in effect until a tolling authority
35 described in section two thousand nine hundred eighty-five of the public
36 authorities law advises, in such form and manner as the commissioner
37 shall prescribe, that notices of liability provided pursuant to such
38 section have been answered and any tolls, fees, or other charges associ-
39 ated with the vehicle and such vehicle's vehicle identification number
40 have been paid to such tolling authority.
41 [(b) Upon receipt of notification from a court or an administrative
42 tribunal that an owner of a motor vehicle has failed to comply with
43 paragraph (b) or (c) of subdivision eight of section four hundred two of
44 this chapter, the commissioner or the commissioner's agent may suspend
45 the registration of the motor vehicle involved in such violation and
46 such suspension shall remain in effect until such time as the commis-
47 sioner is advised that such owner has complied with such paragraphs, as
48 applicable. The commissioner may, in the commissioner's discretion, deny
49 a registration or renewal application to any other person for the same
50 vehicle and may deny a registration or renewal application for any other
51 motor vehicle registered in the name of the applicant where the commis-
52 sioner has determined that such registrant's intent has been to evade
53 the purposes of this paragraph and where the commissioner has reasonable
54 grounds to believe that such registration or renewal will have the
55 effect of defeating the purposes of this paragraph. Such denial shall
S. 7905 3
1 remain in effect only as long as the suspension entered pursuant to this
2 paragraph remains in effect.]
3 § 3. Subdivision 5-a of section 401 of the vehicle and traffic law is
4 amended by adding a new paragraph d to read as follows:
5 d. (i) No person other than a bona fide purchaser of the vehicle in an
6 arms-length transaction may register, reregister, renew, replace, or
7 transfer the registration of, change the name, address, or other infor-
8 mation of the registered owner associated with, or change the registra-
9 tion classification of, any vehicle whose vehicle identification number
10 is associated with a vehicle whose registration has been suspended, or
11 is subject to a pending request from a tolling authority described in
12 section two thousand nine hundred eighty-five of the public authorities
13 law to suspend such registration, by the commissioner pursuant to para-
14 graph d of subdivision three of section five hundred ten of this chap-
15 ter.
16 (ii) The commissioner or the commissioner's agent may impose a vehicle
17 identification number block to deny an application for registration,
18 reregistration, renewal, replacement, or transfer of registration of a
19 vehicle until such tolling authority advises, in such form and manner as
20 the commissioner shall prescribe, that notices of liability provided
21 pursuant to section two thousand nine hundred eighty-five of the public
22 authorities law have been answered and that any unpaid tolls, fees or
23 other charges associated with the vehicle and the vehicle identification
24 number have been paid to such tolling authority. The commissioner may,
25 in the commissioner's discretion, deny an application for registration,
26 reregistration, renewal, replacement, or transfer of the registration
27 for any other motor vehicle registered in the name of the applicant
28 where the commissioner has determined that such registrant's intent has
29 been to evade the purposes of this paragraph and where the commissioner
30 has reasonable grounds to believe that such registration, reregistra-
31 tion, renewal, replacement, or transfer of registration will have the
32 effect of defeating the purposes of this paragraph. Such vehicle iden-
33 tification number block and denial shall only remain in effect until
34 such tolling authority advises, in such form and manner as the commis-
35 sioner shall prescribe, that notices of liability provided pursuant to
36 section two thousand nine hundred eighty-five of the public authorities
37 law have been answered and that any unpaid tolls, fees, or other charges
38 associated with the vehicle and the vehicle identification number have
39 been paid to such tolling authority. Such discretionary vehicle iden-
40 tification number block and discretionary registration application
41 denial described herein shall not apply to a bona fide purchaser in an
42 arms-length transaction.
43 (iii) For purposes of this paragraph, a bona fide purchaser in an
44 arms-length transaction shall mean a vehicle registration applicant who
45 provides a copy of the signed bill of sale or other such contract docu-
46 ment covering such vehicle to the commissioner or the commissioner's
47 agent, with the name and address of the seller and purchaser, the
48 purchase date, and the purchase price clearly legible.
49 § 4. Subdivision 2 of section 402-b of the vehicle and traffic law, as
50 added by section 4 of subpart A of part WW of chapter 56 of the laws of
51 2024, is amended to read as follows:
52 2. If the vehicle is being driven or operated in violation of subpara-
53 graph (ii), (ii-a) or (iii) of paragraph (b) of subdivision one of
54 section four hundred two of this article, such officer shall issue a
55 summons, provided, however, that a summons shall not be issued if, in
56 the discretion and at the request of such officer, the defect is
S. 7905 4
1 corrected in the presence of such officer. The refusal of a police offi-
2 cer to permit the repair of any defect in their presence shall not be
3 reviewable, and shall not be a defense to any violation charged in a
4 summons issued pursuant to the provisions of this section. Provided,
5 however, that if the defect is not corrected by the driver or operator
6 at the time a summons is issued, the officer shall be authorized to
7 correct such defect by seizing and confiscating any material which
8 obscures, distorts, or alters a number plate in violation of the
9 provisions of section four hundred two of this article.
10 § 5. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section
11 2105-b to read as follows:
12 § 2105-b. Liens on motor vehicles for failure to make payments of
13 tolls, fees and other charges. (a) The commissioner, on behalf of the
14 department, shall prescribe the procedures for creation of security
15 interests on vehicles in favor of the Triborough bridge and tunnel
16 authority as provided for in section two hundred twelve of the lien law
17 and subdivision eight of section two thousand nine hundred eighty-five
18 of the public authorities law.
19 (b) Such procedures shall include:
20 (1) notification that the Triborough bridge and tunnel authority will
21 provide to the department of a security interest arising for failure to
22 make payments of tolls, fees, or other charges, including how the
23 authority and department will determine that the person against whom
24 such lien will be imposed is the person owing such arrears;
25 (2) notification from the Triborough bridge and tunnel authority to
26 the department that an individual has satisfied the security interest;
27 and
28 (3) such other matters that the department shall deem necessary to
29 carry out the provisions of this section, section two hundred twelve of
30 the lien law and subdivision eight of section two thousand nine hundred
31 eighty-five of the public authorities law.
32 (c) A security interest arising under section two hundred twelve of
33 the lien law and entered into the records of the department pursuant to
34 this article shall be listed on any subsequent certificate of title
35 issued to such person for the same or any other vehicle.
36 § 6. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 8 of section 2985 of the public
37 authorities law, as added by section 6 of subpart A of part WW of chap-
38 ter 56 of the laws of 2024, is amended to read as follows:
39 (b) Upon exhaustion of remedies pursuant to this section or section
40 twenty-nine hundred eighty-five-a of this title, as applicable, the New
41 York state bridge authority, thruway authority, triborough bridge and
42 tunnel authority, metropolitan transportation authority, and port
43 authority of New York and New Jersey, a bi-state agency created by
44 compact set forth in chapter one hundred fifty-four of the laws of nine-
45 teen hundred twenty-one, shall have the power to enter judgments for
46 unpaid liabilities, provided that such unpaid liabilities include the
47 failure to pay tolls, fees, or other charges or the failure to have such
48 tolls, fees or other charges dismissed or transferred in response to
49 three or more notices of violation issued within a five year period
50 charging the registrant of a motor vehicle with a violation of toll
51 collection regulations, and to enforce such judgments, which shall
52 include vehicle seizure, without court proceedings, in the same manner
53 as the enforcement of money judgments in civil actions in any court of
54 competent jurisdiction or any other place provided for the entry of
55 civil judgment within the state of New York, after a period of notice
56 pursuant to paragraph (c) of this subdivision. The applicable tolling
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1 authority shall not enforce such judgments until thirty days have
2 elapsed from issuing a notice pursuant to paragraph (c) of this subdivi-
3 sion.
4 § 7. Subdivision 3 of section 165.15 of the penal law is amended to
5 read as follows:
6 3. With intent to obtain railroad, subway, bus, air, taxi or any other
7 public transportation service or to access any tolled highway, parkway,
8 road, bridge, tunnel, or tolled central business district without
9 payment of the lawful charge or toll therefor, or to avoid payment of
10 the lawful charge or toll for such transportation service or access
11 which has been rendered to [him] them, [he obtains] they obtain or
12 [attempts] attempt to obtain such service or access to any tolled high-
13 way, parkway, road, bridge, tunnel, or tolled central business district
14 or [avoids] avoid or [attempts] attempt to avoid payment therefor by
15 force, intimidation, stealth, deception, or mechanical tampering, or by
16 unjustifiable failure or refusal to pay; or
17 § 8. Subdivision (b) of section 5230 of the civil practice law and
18 rules, as amended by chapter 831 of the laws of 2021, is amended to read
19 as follows:
20 (b) Issuance. At any time before a judgment or order is satisfied or
21 vacated, an execution may be issued from the supreme court, county court
22 or a family court, in the county in which the judgment was first docket-
23 ed, by the clerk of the court or the attorney for the judgment creditor
24 as officer of the court, to the sheriffs of one or more counties of the
25 state, to the metropolitan transportation authority police department,
26 or to peace officers of the triborough bridge and tunnel authority
27 directing each of them to satisfy the judgment or order out of the real
28 and personal property of the judgment debtor or obligor and the debts
29 due to [him or her] them. Provided, however, if the applicable interest
30 rate changes pursuant to section five thousand four of this chapter
31 while an execution is ongoing, the clerk of the court of the supreme
32 court, county court or a family court, in the county in which the judg-
33 ment was first docketed, or the attorney for the judgment creditor as
34 officer of the court, shall be authorized to issue an amended execution
35 to the sheriffs of one or more counties of the state, to the metropol-
36 itan transportation authority police department, or to peace officers of
37 the triborough bridge and tunnel authority and shall issue [an] such
38 amended execution within sixty days of the effective date of the chapter
39 of the laws of two thousand twenty-one which amended this subdivision,
40 effective as of the date of the rate change. Provided however, an
41 execution issued pursuant to this paragraph to the metropolitan trans-
42 portation authority police department or to peace officers of the
43 triborough bridge and tunnel authority may only be issued where the
44 execution relates to a judgment for which such authority is the judgment
45 creditor. Where the judgment or order is for support and is payable to
46 the support collection unit designated by the appropriate social
47 services district, such unit shall be authorized to issue the execution
48 and to satisfy the judgment or order out of the real and personal prop-
49 erty of the judgment debtor or obligor and the debts due to [him or her]
50 them.
51 § 9. Subdivision (d) of section 5230 of the civil practice law and
52 rules, as amended by chapter 59 of the laws of 1993, is amended to read
53 as follows:
54 (d) Records of sheriff or support collection unit. Each sheriff,
55 metropolitan transportation authority police department, peace officer
56 of the triborough bridge and tunnel authority or support collection unit
S. 7905 6
1 shall keep a record of executions delivered showing the names of the
2 parties and the judgment debtor or obligor; the dates of issue and
3 return; the date and time of delivery, which shall be endorsed upon the
4 execution; the amount due at the time the execution was delivered; and
5 the amount of the judgment or order and of the sheriff's fees unpaid, if
6 any, at the time of the return.
7 § 10. Subdivision 1 of section 184 of the lien law, as amended by
8 chapter 137 of the laws of 1984, is amended to read as follows:
9 1. A person keeping a garage, hangar or place for the storage, mainte-
10 nance, keeping or repair of motor vehicles as defined by the vehicle and
11 traffic law, or of motor boats as defined by article seven of the navi-
12 gation law, or of aircraft as defined by article fourteen of the general
13 business law, and who in connection therewith tows, stores, maintains,
14 keeps or repairs any motor vehicle, motor boat, or aircraft or furnishes
15 gasoline or other supplies therefor at the request or with the consent
16 of the owner or who, subject to the provisions of subdivision two of
17 this section, tows and stores any motor vehicle at the request of a law
18 enforcement officer authorized to remove such motor vehicle, whether or
19 not such motor vehicle, motor boat or aircraft is subject to a security
20 interest, or who has entered a judgment for failure to pay tolls, fees,
21 or other charges pursuant to subdivision eight of section two thousand
22 nine hundred eighty-five of the public authorities law, has a lien upon
23 such motor vehicle, motor boat or aircraft for the sum due for such
24 towing, storing, maintaining, keeping or repairing of such motor vehi-
25 cle, motor boat or aircraft or for furnishing gasoline or other supplies
26 therefor and may detain such motor vehicle, motor boat or aircraft at
27 any time it may be lawfully in [his] their possession until such sum is
28 paid, except that if the lienor, subsequent to thirty days from the
29 accrual of such lien, allows the motor vehicle, motor boat or aircraft
30 out of [his] their actual possession the lien provided for in this
31 section shall thereupon become void as against all security interests,
32 whether or not perfected, in such motor vehicles, motor boat or aircraft
33 and executed prior to the accrual of such lien, notwithstanding
34 possession of such motor vehicle, motor boat or aircraft is thereafter
35 acquired by such lienor. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to
36 the contrary, possession of a motor vehicle is not required for a lienor
37 who has entered a judgement for failure to pay tolls, fees, or other
38 charges against such motor vehicle pursuant to subdivision eight of
39 section two thousand nine hundred eighty-five of the public authorities
40 law. However, if the bailee of a motor vehicle, motor boat or aircraft
41 has furnished a written estimate of the cost of towing, storage, mainte-
42 nance, repair or any other service on such motor vehicle, motor boat or
43 aircraft, any lien sought by such bailee for such service may not be in
44 an amount in excess of the written estimate.
45 § 11. The lien law is amended by adding a new section 212 to read as
46 follows:
47 § 212. Arrears/past due tolls, fees and other charges. 1. The tribor-
48 ough bridge and tunnel authority shall have a lien against personal
49 property upon the entry of judgment pursuant to subdivision eight of
50 section two thousand nine hundred eighty-five of the public authorities
51 law for failure to pay tolls, fees, or other charges. In the case of a
52 vehicle, as defined in subdivision (n) of section twenty-one hundred one
53 of the vehicle and traffic law, such lien shall be perfected with the
54 department of motor vehicles. The filing of a notice of lien or of a
55 release of lien shall be completed without payment of a fee. The filing
56 of notice of lien or release of lien may be done by electronic means.
S. 7905 7
1 2. The state shall accord full faith and credit to liens which arise
2 in another state when such state agency, party, or other entity seeking
3 to enforce such a lien complies with the procedural rules relating to
4 such liens as provided for in article forty-six of the vehicle and traf-
5 fic law or this article as is appropriate. Such rules may not require
6 judicial notice or hearing prior to enforcement of such a lien and
7 enforcement shall be governed by this article.
8 § 12. This act shall take effect immediately.
