NY State Senate Bill 2025-S8016

Senate Bill S8016

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Prohibits the manufacture, sale, or offer for sale of a decorative or facsimile license plate that is substantially similar to a license plate issued by the department of motor vehicles

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Transportation Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
May 15, 2025	referred to transportation

2025-S8016 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A4129
Current Committee:: Senate Transportation
Law Section:: Vehicle and Traffic Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §402-a, V & T L
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:: A8298

2025-S8016 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Prohibits the manufacture, sale, or offer for sale of a decorative or facsimile license plate of a size, shape, color and design which is substantially similar to a license plate issued by the department of motor vehicles, such that such decorative or facsimile license plate appears to be a license plate issued by the department of motor vehicles.

2025-S8016 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S8016

SPONSOR: COMRIE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to prohibiting
the manufacture, sale, or offer for sale of a decorative or facsimile
license plate that is substantially similar to a license plate issued by
the department of motor vehicles

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This legislation will amend the vehicle and traffic law in relation to
prohibiting the manufacture, sale or offer for sale of a decorative or
facsimile license plate issued by the department of motor vehicles.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends section 402-a of the vehicle and traffic law to prohib-
it the manufacture, sale, or offer for sale of a decorative or facsimile
license plate being substantially similar to the size, shape, color, and
design of a license plate issued by the department of motor vehicles

such that the decorative or facsimile license plate visually appears to
be a license plate issued by the department.

Section 2 sets the effective date.

 
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):

N/A

 
JUSTIFICATION:

License plates issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles serve as
crucial identifiers on vehicles, aiding law enforcement and ensuring
accountability on our roads. The proliferation of decorative or facsim-
ile license plates that closely resemble official plates poses a risk to
public safety. These imitation plates may obstruct the proper identifi-
cation of vehicles, leading to confusion and potential misuse in various
circumstances, including traffic violations and investigations.

License plates are government-issued documents that carry specific legal
implications. Allowing the manufacture, sale or offer for sale of deco-
rative plates that mimic official plates can undermine the integrity of
these government-issued plates. This bill aims to uphold the signif-
icance and unique role of official license plates by preventing their
unauthorized replication.

The widespread availability of decorative or facsimile license plates
also creates opportunities for misrepresentation and deception. These
imitation plates can be used to. avoid tolls, traffic citations, or
other legal obligations. By prohibiting such plates, we seekto,eliminate
the potential for misuse and fraudulent activities on our roadways.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2023-24: A8298 - Referred to Transportation

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2025-S8016 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8016
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               May 15, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
 
 AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to  prohibiting
   the  manufacture, sale, or offer for sale of a decorative or facsimile
   license plate that is substantially similar to a license plate  issued
   by the department of motor vehicles
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 402-a of the vehicle  and  traffic
 law,  as added by chapter 224 of the laws of 1990, is amended to read as
 follows:
   1. No person shall manufacture, sell, or offer for sale  a  decorative
 or  facsimile  license plate of a size, shape, color and design which is
 [identical with] SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR TO the  size,  shape,  color  and
 design  of license plates issued by the department, SUCH THAT SUCH DECO-
 RATIVE OR FACSIMILE LICENSE PLATE VISUALLY APPEARS TO BE A LICENSE PLATE
 ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
 
 
 

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD06607-01-5

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