NY Veh & Traf L § 404 (2021)
2021 New York Laws VAT - Vehicle and Traffic Title 4 - Registration of Vehicles Article 14 - Registration of Motor Vehicles 404 - Issuance of Special Number Plates.

§ 404. Issuance  of  special  number  plates. 1.  The commissioner may   issue special number plates to applicants therefor in the same manner as   other number plates are issued pursuant to this  article.  Such  special   number  plates  shall  be  issued only upon payment of an annual service   charge of thirty-one dollars and twenty-five cents in  addition  to  the   regular  fee  prescribed  by  section  four hundred one of this article.   Application for special number plates shall be made in  accordance  with   regulations  promulgated by the commissioner with respect to issuance of   such number plates.  Provided,  however,  in  lieu  of  the  annual  fee   specified  herein, the commissioner may establish specific categories of   plates for which an annual fee of not less  than  eighteen  dollars  and   seventy-five  cents  nor  more  than  thirty-one dollars and twenty-five   cents may be charged subject to the approval  of  the  director  of  the   division  of  the budget.  Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of   this section, the difference collected between the special plates fee or   service charge set forth in this subdivision  in  effect  on  and  after   September first, two thousand nine and the special plates fee or service   charge  set forth in this subdivision in effect prior to such date shall   be deposited to the credit of the dedicated  highway  and  bridge  trust   fund.1-a.  The  commissioner  may issue special number plates to applicants   who are members of veterans organizations in the same  manner  as  other   number  plates  are issued pursuant to this article. Such special number   plates shall be issued only upon  (a)  payment  of  a  one-time  service   charge  of  ten  dollars  in  addition  to  the regular registration fee   prescribed by  section  four  hundred  one  of  this  article,  and  (b)   submission   of  proof,  satisfactory  to  the  commissioner,  that  the   applicant is presently a member of the veterans organization  for  which   such  plate  is requested. Such membership shall be verified annually by   the applicant. Application for such plates shall be made  in  accordance   with  regulations  promulgated  by  the commissioner with respect to the   issuance of such  plates.  Provided,  however,  that  nothing  contained   herein  shall  be  deemed  to  supersede  the provisions of section four   hundred four-d, four hundred four-e, four hundred four-h,  four  hundred   four-i,  four  hundred four-j, four hundred four-k, four hundred four-p,   four hundred four-aa, or four hundred four-dd of this article.2. For purposes of this section, a special number  plate  shall  be  a   plate  which  contains  not  more  than  eight  letters, numerals or any   combination thereof and  which  is  reserved  by  the  commissioner  for   issuance  in  accordance with the provisions of this section, or a plate   reserved for issuance in a series for vehicles owned by public officers,   physicians, visiting nurses, accredited representatives of the press  or   other  groups.  In  issuing special number plates the commissioner shall   give those applicants who held a special number plate at the time of the   enactment of this section the right to retain such special number  plate   upon  the payment of the annual service charge of thirty-one dollars and   twenty-five cents. Provided, however, that such right of retention shall   apply only to the first renewal of  the  registration  of  such  special   number  plate  following  the enactment of this section. Notwithstanding   any inconsistent provision of this  section,  the  difference  collected   between  the  annual  service  charge  set  forth in this subdivision in   effect on and after September first, two thousand nine  and  the  annual   service  charge  set  forth  in this subdivision in effect prior to such   date shall be deposited to the  credit  of  the  dedicated  highway  and   bridge trust fund.3.  This section shall not apply to any plates in a series reserved in   the public interest for purposes of facilitating identification of state   and municipal vehicles and  those  owned  by  members  of  international    governmental  organizations  or any other vehicles which are exempt from   the payment of registration fees, nor to  plates  or  series  of  plates   assigned by the commissioner for issuance by county clerks.4. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to require the   commissioner to issue a special number plate or plates.