STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 4084 2025-2026 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY January 31, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. CUNNINGHAM, JACKSON, PAULIN, PHEFFER AMATO -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requiring license plates for bicycles, bicycles with electric assist and elec- tric scooters The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The article heading of article 34 of the vehicle and traf- 2 fic law, as amended by chapter 694 of the laws of 1995, is amended to 3 read as follows: 4 REGISTRATION AND OPERATION OF BICYCLES AND PLAY DEVICES 5 § 2. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section 6 1244 to read as follows: 7 § 1244. Registration of bicycles, bicycles with electric assist, and 8 electric scooters. a. In a city having a population of one million or 9 more, every bicycle as defined in section one hundred two of this chap- 10 ter, bicycle with electric assist as defined in section one hundred 11 two-c of this chapter and electric scooter as defined in section one 12 hundred fourteen-e of this chapter shall be registered and issued a 13 license plate by the department. In a city having a population of one 14 million or more, no person shall operate a bicycle, bicycle with elec- 15 tric assist or electric scooter on the public highways unless such bicy- 16 cle, bicycle with electric assist or electric scooter shall have a 17 distinctive number assigned to it by the commissioner and a number plate 18 issued by the commissioner with a number corresponding to that of the 19 certificate of registration. 20 b. Such license plates shall be of such material, form, design and 21 dimensions and contain or set forth such distinguishing number or other 22 identification marks as the commissioner shall prescribe, provided, 23 however, that there shall be at all times a marked contrast between the 24 color of the number plates and that of the numerals or letters thereon, EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD01928-01-5A. 4084 2 1 and provided further that no bicycle, bicycle with electric assist or 2 electric scooter shall display the number plates of more than one state 3 at a time, nor shall any plate be used other than those issued by the 4 commissioner. 5 c. Each such license plate shall identify whether the bicycle, bicycle 6 with electric assist or electric scooter is personal or commercial in 7 nature. 8 d. Each such license plate shall be conspicuously displayed on the 9 rear of the bicycle, bicycle with electric assist or electric scooter, 10 securely fastened so as to prevent the same from swinging. 11 e. The fee for such license plates shall be a nominal fee determined 12 by the commissioner. 13 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.