NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A4847
SPONSOR: Brabenec TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to discontinu-
ing service fees for distinctive license plates issued to veterans
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To allow veterans to purchase distinctive veterans plates without having
to pay an extra fee currently required if such veteran can show proof of
membership in a veteran's organization.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 404-h of the vehicle and traffic taw
is amended by removing the one-time service charge of ten dollars.
Section 2. Subdivision 4 of section 404-j of the vehicle and traffic law
amended by removing the one-time service charge of ten dollars.
Section 3. Subdivision 3 of section 404-k of the vehicle and traffic
amended by removing the one-time service charge of ten dollars.
Section 4. Subdivision 3 of section 40-v of the vehicle and traffic law
is amended by removing the one-time service charge of ten dollars.
Section 5. Subdivision 3 of section 404-w of the vehicle and traffic
law, amended by removing the one-time service charge of ten dollars.
Section 6. Subdivision 4 of section 404-w of the vehicle and traffic law
as amended by removing the one-time service charge of ten dollars.
Section 7. Subdivision 1-a of section 404 of the vehicle and traffic law
is amended to allow the commissioner to issue special number plates to
applicants who are members of veterans organizations provided that such
service charge shall be waived for any applicant who has been a member
of the veterans organization for five or more years.
JUSTIFICATION:
The issuance of distinctive license plates is a small way to recognize
the contributions of veterans and to allow veterans the opportunity to
demonstrate their pride. We should eliminate the extra service charge
for license plates if the veteran is a member of a veterans organization
as an incentive for veterans to become more involved in their local
veterans groups. Membership in veterans organizations are dwindling,
more needs to be done to keep these veterans organizations active and
this bill provides an incentive for veterans to continue to stay in
touch and be a part of a lifelong organization committed to serving
veterans.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2024: A5474 Referred to transportation
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have
become a law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4847
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 6, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BRABENEC -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to discontinu-
ing service fees for distinctive license plates issued to 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-h of the vehicle and traffic
2 law, as amended by chapter 415 of the laws of 2001, is amended to read
3 as follows:
4 3. A distinctive plate issued pursuant to this section shall be issued
5 in the same manner as other number plates upon payment of the regular
6 registration fee prescribed by section four hundred one of this article
7 [provided, however, that an additional one-time service charge of ten
8 dollars shall be charged for such plate].
9 § 2. Subdivision 4 of section 404-j of the vehicle and traffic law, as
10 amended by chapter 415 of the laws of 2001, is amended to read as
11 follows:
12 4. Fee. A special plate and registration issued pursuant to this
13 section shall be issued upon payment of the regular registration fee
14 prescribed by section four hundred one of this article [provided, howev-
15 er, that an additional one-time service charge of ten dollars shall be
16 charged for such plate].
17 § 3. Subdivision 3 of section 404-k of the vehicle and traffic law, as
18 amended by chapter 415 of the laws of 2001, is amended to read as
19 follows:
20 3. A distinctive plate issued pursuant to this section shall be issued
21 in the same manner as other number plates upon payment of the regular
22 registration fee prescribed by section four hundred one of this article
23 [provided, however, that an additional one-time service charge of ten
24 dollars shall be charged for such plate].
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04060-01-5
A. 4847 2
1 § 4. Subdivision 3 of section 404-v of the vehicle and traffic law, as
2 added by chapter 490 of the laws of 2019, is amended to read as follows:
3 3. A distinctive plate issued pursuant to this section shall be issued
4 in the same manner as other number plates upon payment of the regular
5 registration fee prescribed by section four hundred one of this arti-
6 cle[, provided, however, that an additional one-time service charge of
7 ten dollars shall be charged for such plate. Provided, however, that one
8 year after the effective date of this section funds in the amount of
9 five thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be available, shall be
10 allocated from such funds to the department to offset costs associated
11 with the production of such license plates].
12 § 5. Subdivision 3 of section 404-w of the vehicle and traffic law, as
13 added by chapter 105 of the laws of 2005, is amended to read as follows:
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 arti-
17 cle[, provided, however, that an additional one-time service charge of
18 ten dollars shall be charged for such plate].
19 § 6. Subdivision 4 of section 404-w of the vehicle and traffic law, as
20 added by chapter 493 of the laws of 2005, is amended to read as follows:
21 4. A distinctive plate issued pursuant to this section shall be issued
22 in the same manner as other number plates upon payment of the regular
23 registration fee prescribed by section four hundred one of this article
24 [provided, however, that an additional one time service charge of ten
25 dollars shall be charged for such plate].
26 § 7. Subdivision 1-a of section 404 of the vehicle and traffic law, as
27 amended by chapter 105 of the laws of 2017, is amended to read as
28 follows:
29 1-a. The commissioner may issue special number plates to applicants
30 who are members of veterans organizations in the same manner as other
31 number plates are issued pursuant to this article. Such special number
32 plates shall be issued only upon (a) payment of a one-time service
33 charge of ten dollars in addition to the regular registration fee
34 prescribed by section four hundred one of this article, provided that
35 such service charge shall be waived for any applicant who has been a
36 member of the veterans organization for five or more years, and (b)
37 submission of proof, satisfactory to the commissioner, that the appli-
38 cant is presently a member of the veterans organization for which such
39 plate is requested. Such membership shall be verified annually by the
40 applicant. Application for such plates shall be made in accordance with
41 regulations promulgated by the commissioner with respect to the issuance
42 of such plates. Provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall
43 be deemed to supersede the provisions of section four hundred four-d,
44 four hundred four-e, four hundred four-h, four hundred four-i, four
45 hundred four-j, four hundred four-k, four hundred four-p, four hundred
46 four-aa, or four hundred four-dd of this article.
47 § 8. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall
48 have become a law.
