Removes the additional $25 service charge for distinctive Elks Association license plates.
Summary
This bill amends the Vehicle and Traffic Law to eliminate the additional annual $25 service charge for distinctive “Elks Association” license plates. Under current law, these plates are issued in the same manner as other special plates, but applicants must pay the regular registration fee plus the extra service charge. The bill removes that surcharge while leaving the underlying plate program in place.
The measure takes effect immediately upon enactment. In practical terms, it would reduce the cost of obtaining and renewing Elks Association plates for eligible motorists, while also reducing the revenue associated with the surcharge that previously supported administration of the plate program or related purposes under the existing statute.
Impact
The bill would amend section 404-z of the Vehicle and Traffic Law by striking the provision that authorizes a $25 annual service charge for distinctive Elks Association plates. It does not change the regular registration fee or the availability of the plates themselves, but it would lower the total cost for plate holders and remove the statutory basis for collecting the extra charge.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes, the measure appears straightforward and noncontroversial. The sponsor’s intent is to provide a fee reduction for Elks Association plate holders, and there is no evidence in the available materials of organized opposition or support beyond the bill’s introduction.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is fiscal: eliminating the surcharge would reduce revenue tied to the distinctive plate program, which could matter if those funds are used to cover administrative costs or support designated purposes. Any opposition would likely come from budget or administrative concerns rather than disagreement with the Elks Association itself. No specific objections or competing viewpoints are reflected in the available transcripts or voting history.
Authorizes distinctive license plates for women veterans; directs that excess service charges collected be used to support programs that support women veterans at the direction of the commissioner of veterans' services.
Provides distinctive license plates for the parents, spouses, children, step-children, siblings, step-siblings, and grandparents of police officers killed in the line of duty; eliminates the registration fee for family member distinctive license plates.
Establishes a distinctive plate honoring recipients of the Girl Scout Gold Award for which the regular registration fee will apply plus an initial one time service charge of $25.
Waives the registration fee and service charge for distinctive plates for volunteer firefighters and members of volunteer ambulance services where the applicant has attended twenty-five percent or more of the emergency calls for the previous year.
Authorizes the issuance of "Blue Star Mother" and "Blue Star Family" distinctive license plates for parents and family members of active duty service members; establishes the "blue star mothers and families support fund".