S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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2507
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
January 13, 2017
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Introduced by Sen. HELMING -- 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 the issuance
of distinctive plates for veterans of the Afghanistan conflict
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new
section 404-y to read as follows:
§ 404-Y. DISTINCTIVE PLATES FOR AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT VETERANS. 1. ANY
AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT VETERAN OR THE SPOUSE OF ANY SUCH VETERAN SHALL,
UPON REQUEST, BE ISSUED A LICENSE PLATE BEARING THE WORDS "AFGHANISTAN
CONFLICT VETERAN". IF A DISTINCTIVE PLATE IS ISSUED TO A VETERAN PURSU-
ANT TO THIS SECTION, SUCH A DISTINCTIVE PLATE SHALL NOT BE ISSUED TO THE
SPOUSE OF SUCH VETERAN. APPLICATION FOR SUCH LICENSE PLATE SHALL BE
FILED WITH THE COMMISSIONER IN SUCH FORM AND DETAIL AS THE COMMISSIONER
SHALL PRESCRIBE.
2. THE DISTINCTIVE PLATE AUTHORIZED IN SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION
SHALL BE ISSUED UPON PROOF, SATISFACTORY TO THE COMMISSIONER, THAT THE
APPLICANT OR THE SPOUSE OF THE APPLICANT IS AN AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT
VETERAN.
3. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT VETERAN"
SHALL MEAN A PERSON WHO IS A RESIDENT OF THIS STATE, WHO SERVED IN THE
ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES IN THE HOSTILITIES THAT OCCURRED IN
AFGHANISTAN COMMENCING ON THE SEVENTH DAY OF OCTOBER, TWO THOUSAND ONE,
AND WERE HONORABLY DISCHARGED FROM THE MILITARY.
4. A DISTINCTIVE PLATE ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL BE ISSUED
IN THE SAME MANNER AS OTHER NUMBER PLATES UPON PAYMENT OF THE REGULAR
REGISTRATION FEE PRESCRIBED BY SECTION FOUR HUNDRED ONE OF THIS ARTICLE
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT AN ADDITIONAL ONE TIME SERVICE CHARGE OF TEN
DOLLARS SHALL BE CHARGED FOR SUCH PLATE. SUCH SERVICE CHARGE SHALL BE
DEPOSITED PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION FOUR HUNDRED FOUR-OO OF
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08185-01-7
S. 2507 2
THIS ARTICLE TO THE CREDIT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES DISTINC-
TIVE PLATE DEVELOPMENT FUND ESTABLISHED BY SECTION NINETY-FIVE-G OF THE
STATE FINANCE LAW AND SHALL BE USED FOR THE PRODUCTION, DESIGN, ADVER-
TISING AND MARKETING OF DISTINCTIVE LICENSE PLATES PURSUANT TO SUCH
SECTION NINETY-FIVE-G.
5. NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN SHALL REQUIRE THE ISSUANCE OF A SPECIAL
NUMBER PLATE UNDER THIS SECTION UNLESS THE COMMISSIONER IS SATISFIED
THAT THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF ANNUAL SERVICE CHARGES COLLECTED PURSUANT
TO SUBDIVISION FOUR OF THIS SECTION WILL BE SUFFICIENT TO RECOVER THE
COSTS OF THE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OF SUCH SPECIAL PLATES.
§ 2. 1. A distinctive plate established pursuant to section 404-y of
the vehicle and traffic law as added by section one of this act shall
only be designed, produced and issued upon the delivery to the depart-
ment of motor vehicles of a surety bond in the amount of six thousand
dollars, which shall be executed by a surety company authorized by the
department of financial services to transact business in this state.
Provided, however, that if the commissioner of motor vehicles shall have
received prior to plate design, production and issuance at least two
hundred orders for such distinctive plate together with the additional
annual service charge applicable to each such order, which shall be
non-refundable, no such surety bond shall be required. All such service
charges shall be deposited pursuant to the provisions of section 404-oo
of the vehicle and traffic law to the credit of the department of motor
vehicles distinctive plate development fund established by section 95-g
of the state finance law and shall be used for the design, production,
advertising and distribution of distinctive license plates in accordance
with such section 95-g.
2. If, upon the expiration of two years following the date upon which
distinctive plates in the series are first available for sale two
hundred or more sets of such plates are sold, a bond delivered pursuant
to this section shall be discontinued. If fewer than two hundred sets of
such plates are sold by such time, such department shall be entitled to
recover against the bond in an amount proportionate to such shortfall.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that
section one of this act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth
day after it shall have become a law; provided further, however, that
effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule
or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effec-
tive date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or
before such effective date.