§ 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.