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Senate Bill S6533

2015-2016 Legislative Session

Restricts the use of an electronic device while crossing a crosswalk; provides an exemption for the use of a hands free headset

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Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Transportation Committee

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2015-S6533 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:
A4146
Current Committee:
Senate Transportation
Law Section:
Vehicle and Traffic Law
Laws Affected:
Add §1158, V & T L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2011-2012: A5434
2013-2014: A4826
2017-2018: S1777, A2669
2019-2020: A4237

2015-S6533 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Restricts the use of an electronic device while crossing a crosswalk; provides an exemption for the use of a hands free headset; mandates a person in violation to be issued a summons and pay a civil fine of twenty-five dollars.

2015-S6533 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2015-S6533 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf 

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  6533

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            January 22, 2016
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen.  AVELLA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation

AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to  restricting
  the use of an electronic device while crossing the crosswalk

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is  amended  by  adding  a  new
section 1158 to read as follows:
  S  1158.  USE  OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES IN CROSSWALKS PROHIBITED. (A) FOR
THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION:
  (1) THE TERM "ELECTRONIC DEVICE" SHALL MEAN ANY  TYPE  OF  INSTRUMENT,
DEVICE  OR  EQUIPMENT WHICH IS DESIGNED TO TRANSMIT AND/OR RECEIVE TELE-
PHONIC, ELECTRIC DIGITAL SIGNALS AND ACCESS SERVICE AS WELL AS ANY  TYPE
OF INSTRUMENT DESIGNED TO HAVE SOUND AND/OR IMAGE RECORDING OR CAPTURING
CAPABILITIES  INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, MOBILE TELEPHONES, PORTABLE
MEDIA PLAYERS AND WIRELESS HANDHELD DEVICES PROVIDED THAT THE TERM SHALL
EXEMPT THE USE OF HANDS FREE HEADSETS OR CALLING DEVICES.
  (2) THE TERM "ENGAGING IN THE USE" SHALL MEAN  HOLDING  AN  ELECTRONIC
DEVICE  TO,  OR IN THE IMMEDIATE PROXIMITY OF, THE PERSON'S EAR, TALKING
OR LISTENING WITH SUCH ELECTRONIC DEVICE OR TEXTING AND/OR  RECEIVING  A
MESSAGE WITH SUCH ELECTRONIC DEVICE.
  (3) THE TERM "IMMEDIATE PROXIMITY" SHALL MEAN THAT DISTANCE AS PERMITS
THE  USER  OF  AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE TO HEAR OR USE ANY TRANSMISSION OVER
SUCH ELECTRONIC DEVICE BUT SHALL NOT REQUIRE PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH  SUCH
PERSON'S EAR.
  (4)  THE  TERM  "CROSSWALK"  SHALL  MEAN  THAT PART OF A ROADWAY AT AN
INTERSECTION INCLUDED WITHIN THE CONNECTIONS OF THE LATERAL LINES OF THE
SIDEWALKS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE HIGHWAY BETWEEN THE CURBS OR, IN  THE
ABSENCE  OF  CURBS,  BETWEEN THE EDGES OF THE TRAVERSABLE ROADWAY OR ANY
PORTION OF A ROADWAY AT AN INTERSECTION OR  ELSEWHERE  DISTINCTLY  INDI-
CATED FOR PEDESTRIAN CROSSING BY LINES OR OTHER MARKINGS ON THE SURFACE.
  (B)  NO PERSON SHALL ENTER AND CROSS A CROSSWALK WHILE ENGAGING IN THE
USE OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD07992-01-5

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