Section 411-A. Issuance of special number plates

1. The commissioner may
  issue special number plates to applicants therefor in the same manner as
  other number plates are issued pursuant to this  article.  Such  special
  number  plates  shall  be  issued only upon payment of an annual service
  charge of eighteen dollars and seventy-five cents  in  addition  to  the
  regular  fee  prescribed  by  section  four hundred ten of this article.
  Application for special number plates shall be made in  accordance  with
  regulations  promulgated by the commissioner with respect to issuance of
  such number plates. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision  of  this
  section,  the  difference collected between the service charge set forth
  in this subdivision in effect on and after September first, two thousand
  nine and the service charge set forth  in  this  subdivision  in  effect
  prior  to  such  date  shall be deposited to the credit of the dedicated
  highway and bridge trust fund.
    2. For purposes of this section, a special number  plate  shall  be  a
  plate  which  contains  not  more  than  six  letters,  numerals  or any
  combination thereof and  which  is  reserved  by  the  commissioner  for
  issuance  in  accordance with the provisions of this section, or a plate
  reserved for issuance in  a  series  for  motorcycles  owned  by  public
  officers,  physicians,  accredited representatives of the press or other
  groups. In issuing special number plates  the  commissioner  shall  give
  those  applicants  who  held  a  special number plate at the time of the
  enactment of this section the right to retain such special number  plate
  upon  the  payment  of  the  annual  service  charge of fifteen dollars.
  Provided, however, that such right of retention shall apply only to  the
  first renewal of the registration of such special number plate following
  the enactment of this section.
    3.  This section shall not apply to any plates in a series reserved in
  the public interest for purposes of facilitating identification of state
  and municipal motorcycles and those owned by  members  of  international
  governmental  organizations  or any other vehicles which are exempt from
  the payment of registration fees, nor to  plates  or  series  of  plates
  assigned by the commissioner for issuance by county clerks.
    4. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to require the
  commissioner to issue a special number plate or plates.