S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5951
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 25, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. JONES -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to creating a
distinctive plate for combat veterans having served in the navy,
marine corps, air force, or coast guard
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 COMBAT VETERANS. 1. ANY COMBAT VETER-
AN HAVING SERVED IN THE NAVY, MARINE CORPS, AIR FORCE OR COAST GUARD, OR
THE SPOUSE OF ANY SUCH VETERAN SHALL, UPON REQUEST, BE ISSUED A LICENSE
PLATE BEARING THE WORDS "AIR FORCE COMBAT VETERAN", "NAVY COMBAT VETER-
AN", "MARINE COMBAT VETERAN" OR "COAST GUARD COMBAT VETERAN". IF A
DISTINCTIVE PLATE IS ISSUED TO A VETERAN PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, SUCH
A DISTINCTIVE PLATE SHALL NOT BE ISSUED TO THE SPOUSE OF SUCH VETERAN.
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 OR THE SPOUSE OF THE APPLICANT IS A COMBAT VETERAN HAVING
SERVED IN THE NAVY, MARINE CORPS, AIR FORCE OR COAST GUARD. THE BRANCH
OF MILITARY SERVICE ON THE LICENSE PLATE SHALL MATCH THE BRANCH LISTED
IN THE PROOF OF COMBAT PROVIDED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION.
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
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03060-01-5
A. 5951 2
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
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 and
directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.