S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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1843
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 13, 2017
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Introduced by M. of A. McLAUGHLIN -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to giving local
town boards the discretion to change speed limits for safety
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 1620 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by
adding a new subdivision (d) to read as follows:
(D) THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SHALL DEFER TO REQUESTS FOR SPEED
LIMIT CHANGES BY THE TOWN BOARD OF A TOWN OR TOWNS AFFECTED WITH RESPECT
TO STATE HIGHWAYS MAINTAINED BY THE STATE IN SUCH TOWN OR TOWNS OUTSIDE
OF CITIES OR VILLAGES, WHERE A REASONABLE NEXUS BETWEEN PUBLIC SAFETY
AND SUCH REQUEST FOR A CHANGE IN SPEED LIMIT EXISTS.
§ 2. Section 1621 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding
a new subdivision (e) to read as follows:
(E) THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SHALL DEFER TO REQUESTS FOR
SIGNAGE AND SIGNAL CHANGES BY THE TOWN BOARD OF A TOWN OR TOWNS AFFECTED
WITH RESPECT TO STATE HIGHWAYS MAINTAINED BY THE STATE IN SUCH TOWN OR
TOWNS OUTSIDE OF CITIES OR VILLAGES, WHERE A REASONABLE NEXUS BETWEEN
PUBLIC SAFETY AND SUCH REQUEST FOR A CHANGE IN SIGNAGE AND SIGNALS
EXISTS.
§ 3. Section 1622 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding
a new subdivision 3 to read as follows:
3. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION, IF ANY
REASONABLE NEXUS EXISTS BETWEEN PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE REQUEST BY A COUN-
TY SUPERINTENDENT OF HIGHWAYS OF A COUNTY OR A TOWN BOARD, FOR A CHANGE
IN SPEED LIMIT, THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SHALL DEFER TO THE
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF HIGHWAYS' OR TOWN BOARD'S REQUEST IN SETTING
THE SPEED LIMIT ON THE COUNTY ROADS AND TOWN HIGHWAYS IN SUCH TOWN OR
TOWNS OUTSIDE OF CITIES OR VILLAGES.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.