S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6198
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
April 3, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. DINOWITZ -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to increasing
penalties for defaced or obstructed license plates
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 of section 402 of the vehi-
cle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 451 of the laws of 2021, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) (i) Number plates shall be kept clean and in a condition so as to
be easily readable and shall not be covered by glass or any plastic
material.
(ii) Number plates shall not be knowingly DEFACED OR covered or coated
with any artificial or synthetic material or substance that conceals or
obscures such number plates or that distorts a recorded or photographic
image of such number plates.
(iii) The view of such number plates shall not be obstructed by any
part of the vehicle or by anything carried thereon, except for a receiv-
er-transmitter issued by a publicly owned tolling facility in connection
with electronic toll collection when such receiver-transmitter is
affixed to the exterior of a vehicle in accordance with mounting
instructions provided by the tolling facility.
§ 2. Subdivision 8 of section 402 of the vehicle and traffic law, as
amended by chapter 451 of the laws of 2021, is amended to read as
follows:
8. A violation of this section shall be punishable by a fine of not
less than twenty-five nor more than two hundred dollars, except that a
violation of subparagraph (ii) or subparagraph (iii) of paragraph (b) of
subdivision one of this section shall [be punishable by a fine of not
less than fifty nor more than three hundred dollars] RESULT IN A SUSPEN-
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09834-03-3
A. 6198 2
SION OF THE REGISTRATION OF SUCH VEHICLE FOR ONE YEAR PURSUANT TO SUBDI-
VISION FOUR-H OF SECTION FIVE HUNDRED TEN OF THIS CHAPTER.
§ 3. Section 510 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a
new subdivision 4-h to read as follows:
4-H. SUSPENSION OF REGISTRATION FOR DEFACED OR OBSCURED NUMBER PLATES.
UPON THE RECEIPT OF A NOTIFICATION FROM A COURT OR AN ADMINISTRATIVE
TRIBUNAL THAT AN OWNER OF A MOTOR VEHICLE HAS VIOLATED SUBPARAGRAPH (II)
OR (III) OF PARAGRAPH (B) OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION FOUR HUNDRED TWO
OF THIS CHAPTER, THE COMMISSIONER OR HIS OR HER AGENT SHALL SUSPEND THE
REGISTRATION OF THE VEHICLE INVOLVED IN THE VIOLATION FOR A PERIOD OF
ONE YEAR. EACH SUBSEQUENT VIOLATION SHALL RESULT IN AN ADDITIONAL ONE
YEAR SUSPENSION. DURING ANY PERIOD OF SUSPENSION UNDER THIS SUBDIVISION
THE REGISTERED OWNER OF THE VEHICLE SHALL BE PROHIBITED FROM TRANS-
FERRING OWNERSHIP OF SUCH VEHICLE TO ANY OTHER PERSON AND SHALL ALSO BE
PROHIBITED FROM REGISTERING ANY OTHER VEHICLE.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.