New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 15 - Department of Motor Vehicles
Chapter I - REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER
Subchapter B - Registration, Certificate of Title, and Number Plates
Part 16 - Special Number Plates
Section 16.3 - Definitions

(a) For the purposes of Section 404 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law and these regulations, a special number plate shall be a number plate or a set of number plates containing not more than eight letters, numerals or combination thereof, and which is reserved by the commissioner for issuance in accordance with the provisions of this Part, and shall be either a reserved series or a personalized plate. For the purposes of determining the number of letters or numerals, a space or dash shall be considered a letter or numeral. However, special number plate issued to a motorcycle registered pursuant to Section 411-a of the Vehicle and Traffic Law shall contain not more than six letters, numerals or combination thereof.

(b) A reserved series is a series of special number plates reserved for issuance to vehicles owned by public officers, physicians, accredited representatives of the press or other groups.

(c) For purposes of this Part, a personalized plate is any number plate that bears a plate number that is a combination of letters and/or numerals requested by the applicant and is issued under Vehicle and Traffic Law, Sections 404 or 411-a. P ersonalized plates shall include, but need not be limited to, plates that have a picture or logo next to, or as a part of the background of, the plate number.