New York Laws
Article 3 - Exemption of Non-Resident Owners and Operators
251 - Exemption for Members of the Armed Forces and Their Dependents.

§ 251. Exemption for members of the armed forces and their dependents.
1. The provisions of this chapter relative to the registration of motor
vehicles and motorcycles and the display of number plates shall not
apply to motor vehicles or motorcycles having registrations and
displaying plates issued by the armed forces of the United States for
vehicles owned by members of the armed forces or their dependents, but
such exemption shall be valid only for a period of forty-five days after
the owner thereof has entered this state for the purpose of traveling to
either his place of residence or a point of military duty.

2. A member of the armed forces who has been issued a license to
operate a motor vehicle or motorcycle by the armed forces of the United
States may operate a motor vehicle or motorcycle on the public highways
of this state without being licensed under this chapter for a period of
sixty days after such person has entered this state.

2-a. A member of the armed forces and any dependent of such person
sixteen years of age or older who has complied with the laws of a state,
territory, federal district or foreign country which require such
person, in order to operate a motor vehicle or motorcycle therein, to be
licensed, may operate or drive a motor vehicle or motorcycle on the
public highways of this state without being so licensed under this
chapter. Provided, however, that the recognition granted under this
subdivision shall, with respect to a person under the age of eighteen
years, only permit the operation of a motor vehicle or motorcycle in
this state in accordance with the same restrictions imposed upon New
York residents operating or driving motor vehicles or motorcycles with
class DJ or MJ licenses under subdivision three of section five hundred
one of this chapter. The exemption granted in this subdivision shall not
apply to persons whose privilege of operating a motor vehicle in this
state, or whose former license to drive in this state, has been
suspended or revoked, until such suspension or revocation has been
terminated or privilege of operating a motor vehicle restored.
Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision four of this section, for
purposes of this subdivision, "member of the armed forces" shall mean a
person on active duty, other than annual active duty for training, in a
branch of the armed forces of the United States and "dependent" shall
mean a spouse or child of a member of the armed forces residing in the
same household and dependent upon such member of the armed forces for
support.

3. The provisions of this chapter relative to the registration and
equipment of motor vehilces, motorcycles and trailers and the display of
registration numbers shall not apply to motor vehicles, motorcycles or
trailers owned by members of the armed forces or their dependents who
are non-residents of this state, provided that the owner thereof shall
have complied with the provisions of the law of the foreign country,
state, territory or federal district of his residence relative to
registration and equipment of such motor vehicles, motorcycles or
trailers, as the case may be, and the display of registration numbers
thereon, and shall conspicuously display his registration numbers as
required thereby.

4. For the purposes of this section "member of the armed forces" shall
mean a person on active duty, other than annual active duty for
training, in a branch of the armed forces of the United States or a
person who has been discharged from such active duty within the
preceding sixty days, and "dependent" shall mean a spouse or child of a
member of the armed forces or other person residing in the same
household and dependent upon such member of the armed forces for
support.

Structure New York Laws