2010 New York Code
VAT - Vehicle & Traffic
Title 4 - REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES
Article 15 - (410 - 412) REGISTRATION OF MOTORCYCLES
411 - Distinctive number; form of number plates.

§ 411. Distinctive  number;  form of number plates. 1. No person shall
  operate or drive a motorcycle on  the  public  highways  of  this  state
  unless such motorcycle shall have a distinctive number assigned to it by
  the  commissioner  and  a number plate issued by the commissioner with a
  number  corresponding  to  that  of  the  certificate  of   registration
  conspicuously  displayed  on  the  rear  of  such  motorcycle,  securely
  fastened so as to prevent the same from swinging.
    2. Such number plates shall be of  such  material,  form,  design  and
  dimensions  and contain or set forth such distinguishing number or other
  identification marks as  the  commissioner  shall  prescribe,  provided,
  however,  that there shall be at all times a marked contrast between the
  color of the number plates and that of the numerals or letters  thereon,
  and  provided further that no motorcycle shall display the number plates
  of more than one state at a time, nor shall any plate be used other than
  those issued by the commissioner.
    3. No person shall operate or  drive  a  motorcycle  upon  the  public
  highways  of  this  state  having  displayed  thereon a number plate not
  proper for such motorcycle under the provisions  of  this  chapter  and,
  upon  conviction for this offense, the number plate shall be surrendered
  to the court for delivery to the commissioner.
    4. No person shall knowingly authorize or permit a number plate issued
  for a motorcycle owned and registered by him  to  be  displayed  on  any
  motorcycle  other  than a motorcycle to which such number plate has been
  assigned by the commissioner,  or  upon  which  such  number  plate  may
  legally  be  displayed  under  a  temporary  certificate of registration
  issued by a dealer under the provisions of section four  hundred  twenty
  of this chapter.