Allows current, active and retired military service members and reserve units of the state to qualify for distinctive license plates; allows the spouse to also qualify for such distinctive plates.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A3484
SPONSOR: Eachus (MS)
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to allowing
retired service members to qualify for distinctive license plates
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Allows any current active or retired member of the organized militia and
reserve unit of the state or the spouse of such member to obtain a
license plate bearing a militiaman and the appropriate organization of
the service branch of which they were affiliated.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Amends section 404-d of the vehicle and traffic law to allow
any current active or retired member of the organized militia and
reserve unit of the state or the spouse of such member to obtain a
license plate bearing a militiaman and the appropriate organization. The
distinctive plate shall be issued upon satisfactory proof to the commis-
sioner that the applicant or spouse of the applicant is currently active
or a retired member of the organized militia or reserve.
Section 2: Effective date of the act.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Members of the reserve unit serve an important function in keeping the
homeland safe. They make many sacrifices for the good of their communi-
ties and the state and deserve to be recognized not only during the time
of their service but:also after they retire. Allowing retired members
the opportunity to obtain these distinctive plates is a worthy tribute
to all that they have done for our safety and security.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24 A1535: Referred to Transportation, S7357: Referred to Transpor-
tation
2021-22 A1730: Referred to Transportation, No Same-As
2019-20 A5281: Referred to Transportation, No Same-As
2017-18 A9020: Referred to Transportation, S4659: Passed Senate
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
The bill shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
3484
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 28, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. EACHUS, BLANKENBUSH, BRABENEC, COLTON, DAVILA,
DURSO, RIVERA, MORINELLO, PEOPLES-STOKES, RA, SANTABARBARA, TAYLOR,
VANEL, WALSH -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. PALMESANO -- read once
and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to allowing
retired service members to qualify for distinctive license plates
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 404-d of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by
2 chapter 486 of the laws of 1996 and subdivision 3 as amended by chapter
3 415 of the laws of 2001, is amended to read as follows:
4 § 404-d. Distinctive plates for members of the organized militia and
5 reserve. 1. Any current, active or retired member of the organized mili-
6 tia of the state of New York and any member of a reserve unit from this
7 state of any branch of the armed forces of the United States or the
8 spouse of any such member shall, upon request, be issued a license plate
9 bearing a militiaman and the appropriate organization -- army national
10 guard, air national guard, state guard or naval militia, army reserve,
11 marine corps reserve, air force reserve, navy reserve or coast guard
12 reserve. If a distinctive plate is issued to a member of the organized
13 militia pursuant to this section, such a distinctive plate shall not be
14 issued to the spouse of such member of the organized militia. Applica-
15 tion for said license plate shall be filed with the commissioner in such
16 form and detail as the commissioner shall prescribe, and shall be veri-
17 fied annually by the applicant.
18 2. The distinctive plate authorized in subdivision one of this section
19 shall be issued upon proof, satisfactory to the commissioner, that the
20 applicant or the spouse of the applicant is presently [an] a current,
21 active or retired member of the organized militia or reserve.
22 3. A distinctive plate issued pursuant to this section shall be issued
23 in the same manner as other number plates upon payment of the regular
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07776-01-5
A. 3484 2
1 registration fee prescribed by section four hundred one of this article
2 provided, however, that an additional one-time service charge of ten
3 dollars shall be charged for such plate.
4 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.