N.Y. Vehicle & Traffic Law § 411-a: Issuance of special number plates

§ 411-a. Issuance of special number plates. 1. The commissioner may

issue special number plates to applicants therefor in the same manner as

other number plates are issued pursuant to this article. Such special

number plates shall be issued only upon payment of an annual service

charge of eighteen dollars and seventy-five cents in addition to the

regular fee prescribed by section four hundred ten of this article.

Application for special number plates shall be made in accordance with

regulations promulgated by the commissioner with respect to issuance of

such number plates. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of this

section, the difference collected between the service charge set forth

in this subdivision in effect on and after September first, two thousand

nine and the service charge set forth in this subdivision in effect

prior to such date shall be deposited to the credit of the dedicated

highway and bridge trust fund.

2. For purposes of this section, a special number plate shall be a

plate which contains not more than six letters, numerals or any

combination thereof and which is reserved by the commissioner for

issuance in accordance with the provisions of this section, or a plate

reserved for issuance in a series for motorcycles owned by public

officers, physicians, accredited representatives of the press or other

groups. In issuing special number plates the commissioner shall give

those applicants who held a special number plate at the time of the

enactment of this section the right to retain such special number plate

upon the payment of the annual service charge of fifteen dollars.

Provided, however, that such right of retention shall apply only to the

first renewal of the registration of such special number plate following

the enactment of this section.

3. This section shall not apply to any plates in a series reserved in

the public interest for purposes of facilitating identification of state

and municipal motorcycles and those owned by members of international

governmental organizations or any other vehicles which are exempt from

the payment of registration fees, nor to plates or series of plates

assigned by the commissioner for issuance by county clerks.

4. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to require the

commissioner to issue a special number plate or plates.