N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 17, § 720.10 – Exceptions to safety regulations.

(a) A duly authorized department representative, upon application and review, may adopt an order that permits the issuance of a certificate of inspection to the owner or operator of a motor vehicle subject to this Part that does not meet or achieve a certain standard(s) or requirement(s) contained within this Part, if such authorized representative determines that said vehicle, as designed, constructed, altered or modified, is safe to be operated within this State, and that the specific deviations from the standard(s) or requirement(s) does not render such vehicle unsafe to passengers or to the public compared to if such vehicle had complied with such provision(s). Any order adopted pursuant to this section shall set forth the specific provisions contained in this Part which the vehicle(s) is exempt from, and the reason(s) why the authorized representative has determined that the exemption has been granted.
(b) A copy of each such department order granting a waiver shall be filed in the department's vehicle maintenance folder (see section 721.1[c] of this Title).
(c) New York City historic double-decker sightseeing bus exception.
Effective April 1, 1998, historic double-decker sightseeing buses operated under the authority of the New York City Office of Consumer Affairs and meeting the definition contained in section 720.1(m) of this Part shall be subject to all the requirements of this Part, except for the following sections: 720.3(a)(9), 720.4(b), (c), (d), (e), (i), (m)(1)(i), (aa)(1)(v) and 720.5.