Bill > A00788

This bill amends the New York Vehicle and Traffic Law to establish a new procedure for handling stolen license plates. Currently, when a vehicle owner's license plates are stolen, they can file a statement with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and pay a small fee to obtain replacement plates. The new bill requires that within seven days of reporting stolen plates, the DMV must: (1) change the vehicle's distinctive license plate number, issue a new set of plates, and disassociate the previous number; and (2) update the vehicle's registration record to reflect these changes. This process aims to provide additional protection for vehicle owners by quickly rendering stolen plates invalid and creating a new, unique identifier for the vehicle. The bill modernizes the existing protocol for handling license plate theft by mandating a more comprehensive and timely response from motor vehicle authorities. The legislation will take effect 30 days after becoming law, with provisions allowing the DMV to prepare necessary regulations in advance of the effective date.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A788