NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A2791
SPONSOR: Peoples-Stokes TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requiring
one number plate on the rear of each motor vehicle
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To repeal the two license plate requirement for motor vehicles in New
York. This legislation establishes that only one license plate is
required to be displayed on the rear of motor vehicles registered in New
York.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill amends the vehicle and traffic law by repealing
the requirement that two license plates must be displayed on motor vehi-
cles registered in New York State. Section 2 and Section 3 repeal the
commissioner discretion to issue, for any registration year, only one
plate as a set of motor vehicle, in which event a set of disabled person
or severely disabled veteran plates for a motor vehicle shall consist of
one plate. Section 4 repeals that a set of number plates shall consist
of two plates in the case of a-motor vehicle and one plate in the case
of a motorcycle or trailer. Section 5 adds Section 131-b to provide that
a set of number plates or two number plates pursuant to paragraph (a) of
subdivision one of section four hundred two of this chapter.
Section 6 provides the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Eliminating the need for a front license plate will significantly reduce
the State costs associated with production, storage, and shipping. The
State will save money by producing half the amount of license plates.
This money could be channeled to other needs such as road improvements.
By producing half the amount of license plates the State will be produc-
ing less waste. License plates are not recyclable and are difficult to
dispose of properly. Less waste is always better for the environment.
A front license plate restricts the performance of passenger vehicles.
Modern cars are no longer being designed with front plates in mind.
Installing the mounting brackets that are necessary to hold plates
interfere with the cars' aerodynamic, often get damaged during the car
washing process and also cause a devaluation of Collector's Edition or
other such Limited Edition vehicles when required to drill or otherwise
modify the from bumper. Those who move to New York must either deface or
devalue their car by drilling holes in which to mount a front license
plate, or spend time and money locating and installing parts to be able
to mount a front plate.
Unnecessary damage is sustained from minor bumper-to-bumper collisions,
because the front mounting brackets on passenger cars can cause cracks
and abrasions to the rear bumpers of the cars that they hit. Police
officers will be more productive in stopping dangerous motor vehicle
violations such as drunk driving, reckless driving, speeding, racing,
etc., since their time will not be compromised by a New York motorist
who simply did not have a front license plate display. Law enforcement
officials might be opposed to a measure abolishing the front license
plate requirement, as they might believe that losing the extra plate
will make it more difficult for them to do their jobs in the best possi-
ble manner. However, in the 21 states that do not have a front license
plate requirement, there is no evidence of a decline in public safety as
a result of the plate removal.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A9426 of 2009/2010,
A686 of 2011/2012;
A3824 of 2013/2014.
A2993 of 2016
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it
shall have become a law; provided that the commissioner of motor vehi-
cles is authorized and directed to promulgate, amend and/or repeal any
rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this act
on its effective date on or before such date.
