BILL NUMBER: S7734

SPONSOR: COONEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to number
stickers for motor vehicles

 
PURPOSE:

To authorize number stickers to be used in lieu of number plates on
motor vehicles.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: amends section 402 of the vehicle and traffic law by adding a
new subdivision 9 to permit the commissioner of motor vehicles to devel-
op number stickers for use on motor vehicles in lieu of number plates.

Section 2: establishes the effective date.

 
              

JUSTIFICATION:

This bill authorizes the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehi-
cles to develop and offer license plate stickers, in addition to exist-
ing standard license plates, to be displayed on a motor vehicle.
License plate stickers are a practical and functional alternative to
standard metal license plates since, unlike metal license plates, they
require no drilling to install.

Modern motor vehicles have several safety features that rely on cameras
and sensors that are attached to the front of the vehicle.  Such
features may include automated emergency braking, lane-keep assistance,
adaptive cruise control, and pedestrian recognition.  Depending on the
make and model of a motor vehicle, a front license plate can interfere
with the proper operation of such features, either because the plate
mount blocks a sensor or camera or because the need to drill holes to
mount the license plate presents a risk of damage to the vehicle's safe-
ty features. While motor vehicle owners may currently order a replica
license sticker from commercial vendors to mimic their standard metal
license plate, doing so is problematic because it results in a set of
duplicative (standard metal license plates) tied to the registration of
the same motor vehicle and additional fees to the vehicle owner beyond
the standard fees already paid to DMV.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2023-24: A8418 - Referred to Transportation

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect ninety days after it shall have become a law.