§ 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.