S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
4084
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 31, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. CUNNINGHAM, JACKSON, PAULIN, PHEFFER AMATO --
read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requiring
license plates for bicycles, bicycles with electric assist and elec-
tric scooters
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The article heading of article 34 of the vehicle and traf-
fic law, as amended by chapter 694 of the laws of 1995, is amended to
read as follows:
REGISTRATION AND OPERATION OF BICYCLES AND PLAY DEVICES
§ 2. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section
1244 to read as follows:
§ 1244. REGISTRATION OF BICYCLES, BICYCLES WITH ELECTRIC ASSIST, AND
ELECTRIC SCOOTERS. A. IN A CITY HAVING A POPULATION OF ONE MILLION OR
MORE, EVERY BICYCLE AS DEFINED IN SECTION ONE HUNDRED TWO OF THIS CHAP-
TER, BICYCLE WITH ELECTRIC ASSIST AS DEFINED IN SECTION ONE HUNDRED
TWO-C OF THIS CHAPTER AND ELECTRIC SCOOTER AS DEFINED IN SECTION ONE
HUNDRED FOURTEEN-E OF THIS CHAPTER SHALL BE REGISTERED AND ISSUED A
LICENSE PLATE BY THE DEPARTMENT. IN A CITY HAVING A POPULATION OF ONE
MILLION OR MORE, NO PERSON SHALL OPERATE A BICYCLE, BICYCLE WITH ELEC-
TRIC ASSIST OR ELECTRIC SCOOTER ON THE PUBLIC HIGHWAYS UNLESS SUCH BICY-
CLE, BICYCLE WITH ELECTRIC ASSIST OR ELECTRIC SCOOTER SHALL HAVE A
DISTINCTIVE NUMBER ASSIGNED TO IT BY THE COMMISSIONER AND A NUMBER PLATE
ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER WITH A NUMBER CORRESPONDING TO THAT OF THE
CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION.
B. SUCH LICENSE PLATES SHALL BE OF SUCH MATERIAL, FORM, DESIGN AND
DIMENSIONS AND CONTAIN OR SET FORTH SUCH DISTINGUISHING NUMBER OR OTHER
IDENTIFICATION MARKS AS THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PRESCRIBE, PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, THAT THERE SHALL BE AT ALL TIMES A MARKED CONTRAST BETWEEN THE
COLOR OF THE NUMBER PLATES AND THAT OF THE NUMERALS OR LETTERS THEREON,
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01928-01-5
A. 4084 2
AND PROVIDED FURTHER THAT NO BICYCLE, BICYCLE WITH ELECTRIC ASSIST OR
ELECTRIC SCOOTER SHALL DISPLAY THE NUMBER PLATES OF MORE THAN ONE STATE
AT A TIME, NOR SHALL ANY PLATE BE USED OTHER THAN THOSE ISSUED BY THE
COMMISSIONER.
C. EACH SUCH LICENSE PLATE SHALL IDENTIFY WHETHER THE BICYCLE, BICYCLE
WITH ELECTRIC ASSIST OR ELECTRIC SCOOTER IS PERSONAL OR COMMERCIAL IN
NATURE.
D. EACH SUCH LICENSE PLATE SHALL BE CONSPICUOUSLY DISPLAYED ON THE
REAR OF THE BICYCLE, BICYCLE WITH ELECTRIC ASSIST OR ELECTRIC SCOOTER,
SECURELY FASTENED SO AS TO PREVENT THE SAME FROM SWINGING.
E. THE FEE FOR SUCH LICENSE PLATES SHALL BE A NOMINAL FEE DETERMINED
BY THE COMMISSIONER.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.