Eliminates the annual service charge on issuance of special number plates to veterans of the armed forces.
Summary
This bill amends the Vehicle and Traffic Law to eliminate the annual service charge for special number plates issued to veterans of the armed forces. Under current law, special plates are generally subject to an annual service charge in addition to the regular registration fee, but this bill creates an exception for veterans so that no annual service charge would apply to those plates.
The measure is narrowly focused on vehicle registration fees and does not change eligibility for veteran status or the general process for obtaining special plates. It would take effect immediately upon enactment. The bill also leaves intact the existing framework for special plate fees generally, including the provision that certain fee differences are deposited into the dedicated highway and bridge trust fund.
Impact
The bill would amend section 404 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law by carving out veterans of the armed forces from the annual service charge applicable to special number plates. As a result, veterans seeking these plates would pay only the regular registration fee and any other applicable standard charges, but not the additional annual special-plate service fee. The change would reduce revenue associated with veteran plate issuance and could modestly affect deposits tied to special plate fee differentials that support the dedicated highway and bridge trust fund.
Sentiment
Based on the bill’s purpose and the absence of recorded opposition in the provided materials, the measure appears to be generally favorable and supportive of veterans. The caption frames the bill as a fee elimination for veterans, suggesting a benefit-oriented policy with likely bipartisan appeal. No committee transcript or vote record was provided showing debate, amendments, or dissent.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. Potential areas of concern, if raised, would likely involve the loss of fee revenue to the state and the precedent of exempting one category of special plates from the annual service charge while leaving others subject to it. Any such concerns would most likely come from fiscal or transportation funding perspectives rather than from disagreement over the veteran benefit itself.
An Act Reducing For Veterans And Members Of The Armed Forces The Fee For Certain Specialty Motor Vehicle Number Plates To Not More Than The Cost To Make Such Plates.
Creates a distinctive license plate for veterans honoring Borinqueneers; defines "veteran" as a person who is a resident of this state, who served in the armed forces of the United States, and was honorably discharged from the armed forces, or has a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the veterans' services law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the veterans' services law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service.