S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   3866
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 30, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. DiPIETRO -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Transportation
 
 AN  ACT  to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to creating a
   distinctive plate for active duty military service members
 
   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-ff to read as follows:
   § 404-FF. DISTINCTIVE PLATES FOR ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS.
 1. ANY ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY SERVICE MEMBER SERVING IN THE  ARMED  FORCES
 OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  SHALL,  UPON REQUEST, BE ISSUED A LICENSE PLATE
 BEARING THE WORDS "U.S. MILITARY".  APPLICATION FOR SAID  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 IS AN ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY SERVICE MEMBER. THE BRANCH OF MILI-
 TARY  SERVICE  SHALL  ALSO  BE  INDICATED ON THE LICENSE PLATE EITHER IN
 WORDS OR BY THE INSIGNIA OF THE BRANCH SERVED IN.
   3. 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.
   4.  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 THREE 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-ff of
 the vehicle and traffic law, as added by section one of this act,  shall
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD07812-01-5
              

 A. 3866                             2
 
 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 service
 charges collected pursuant to this section 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  devel-
 opment  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,  the  department  of  motor  vehicles
 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. Effective immediately, the addi-
 tion, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or  regulation  necessary  for
 the  implementation  of this act on its effective date are authorized to
 be made and completed on or before such effective date.