2006 New York Code - Issuance Of Special Number Plates.

 
    § 404. 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 twenty-five dollars in addition to the regular fee  prescribed
  by  section  four  hundred  one of this chapter. Application for special
  number plates shall be made in accordance with  regulations  promulgated
  by  the  commissioner  with  respect  to issuance of such number plates.
  Provided, however, in lieu of  the  annual  fee  specified  herein,  the
  commissioner  may  establish  specific categories of plates for which an
  annual fee of not less than fifteen dollars nor  more  than  twenty-five
  dollars  may  be  charged subject to the approval of the director of the
  division of the budget.
    1-a. The commissioner may issue special number  plates  to  applicants
  who  are  members  of veterans organizations in the same manner as other
  number plates are issued pursuant to this article. Such  special  number
  plates  shall  be  issued  only  upon  (a) payment of a one-time service
  charge of ten dollars  in  addition  to  the  regular  registration  fee
  prescribed  by  section  four  hundred  one  of  this  article,  and (b)
  submission  of  proof,  satisfactory  to  the  commissioner,  that   the
  applicant  is  presently a member of the veterans organization for which
  such plate is requested. Such membership shall be verified  annually  by
  the  applicant.  Application for such plates shall be made in accordance
  with regulations promulgated by the commissioner  with  respect  to  the
  issuance  of  such  plates.  Provided,  however,  that nothing contained
  herein shall be deemed to  supersede  the  provisions  of  section  four
  hundred  four-d,  four hundred four-e, four hundred four-h, four hundred
  four-i, four hundred four-j, four hundred four-k or four hundred  four-p
  of this article.
    2.  For  purposes  of  this section, a special number plate shall be a
  plate which contains not  more  than  eight  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 vehicles owned by public officers,
  physicians,  visiting nurses, 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  twenty-five  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  vehicles  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.