BILL NUMBER: S1947
SPONSOR: TEDISCO
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the issuance
of distinctive license plates to volunteer firefighters
 
PURPOSE:
Relates to the issuance of distinctive license plates to volunteer Fire-
fighters at no cost.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Subdivision 3 of section 404-b of the vehicle and traffic law, as
amended by chapter 277 of the laws of 1991, is amended to read as
follows:
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 chapter
and an initial one-time service charge of fifteen dollars, provided,
however, that no registration fee or service charge shall be charged for
such plate.
§ 2. Subdivision 1 of section 404 of the vehicle and traffic law, as
amended by section 21 of, part G of chapter 59 of the laws of 2009, is
amended to indicate that the annual service charge for such plates is
waived as well.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Many volunteer fire departments in New York State face the challenge of
recruiting new members. This ultimately will have a negative effect on
public safety, and potentially create a scenario where localities are
forced to move to a paid department with limited means to do so.
This measure will create an added incentive to recruit new members by
waiving all fees for volunteer firefighter vanity license plates.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
12/05/22:S.9608 REFERRED TO RULES
01/15/23:S.2042 REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
01/03/24:S.2042 REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Minimal.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S1947: 404-b vehicle and traffic law, 404-b(3) vehicle and traffic law, 404 vehicle and traffic law, 404(1) vehicle and traffic law