N.Y. VAT Law § 411-A

§ 411-a. Issuance of special number plates. 1. The commissioner may\nissue special number plates to applicants therefor in the same manner as\nother number plates are issued pursuant to this article. Such special\nnumber plates shall be issued only upon payment of an annual service\ncharge of eighteen dollars and seventy-five cents in addition to the\nregular fee prescribed by section four hundred ten of this article.\nApplication for special number plates shall be made in accordance with\nregulations promulgated by the commissioner with respect to issuance of\nsuch number plates. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of this\nsection, the difference collected between the service charge set forth\nin this subdivision in effect on and after September first, two thousand\nnine and the service charge set forth in this subdivision in effect\nprior to such date shall be deposited to the credit of the dedicated\nhighway and bridge trust fund.\n 2. For purposes of this section, a special number plate shall be a\nplate which contains not more than six letters, numerals or any\ncombination thereof and which is reserved by the commissioner for\nissuance in accordance with the provisions of this section, or a plate\nreserved for issuance in a series for motorcycles owned by public\nofficers, physicians, accredited representatives of the press or other\ngroups. In issuing special number plates the commissioner shall give\nthose applicants who held a special number plate at the time of the\nenactment of this section the right to retain such special number plate\nupon the payment of the annual service charge of fifteen dollars.\nProvided, however, that such right of retention shall apply only to the\nfirst renewal of the registration of such special number plate following\nthe enactment of this section.\n 3. This section shall not apply to any plates in a series reserved in\nthe public interest for purposes of facilitating identification of state\nand municipal motorcycles and those owned by members of international\ngovernmental organizations or any other vehicles which are exempt from\nthe payment of registration fees, nor to plates or series of plates\nassigned by the commissioner for issuance by county clerks.\n 4. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to require the\ncommissioner to issue a special number plate or plates.\n