§ 411-a. 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 eighteen dollars and seventy-five cents in addition to the
regular fee prescribed by section four hundred ten 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. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of this
section, the difference collected between the service charge set forth
in this subdivision in effect on and after September first, two thousand
nine and the 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.

2. For purposes of this section, a special number plate shall be a
plate which contains not more than six 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 motorcycles owned by public
officers, physicians, 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 fifteen dollars.
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.

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 motorcycles 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.