S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
2289
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 22, 2019
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Introduced by M. of A. GANTT -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the maximum
vehicle length
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 3 of section 385 of the vehi-
cle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 493 of the laws of 2003, is
amended to read as follows:
(c) The length of buses having a carrying capacity of more than seven
passengers shall not exceed forty-five feet, except that the length of
articulated buses shall not exceed sixty-two feet AND THE LENGTH OF A
BUS OPERATED PURSUANT TO OR REQUIRING A PERMIT, AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVI-
SION TWENTY-ONE OF SECTION TWO OF THE TRANSPORTATION LAW, SHALL NOT
EXCEED FORTY-EIGHT FEET, PROVIDED THAT SUCH BUS: (I) HAS SUCCESSFULLY
COMPLETED A NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ADMINISTERED
SAFETY INSPECTION; (II) HAS WALL-TO-WALL TURNING DIAMETER NOT EXCEEDING
NINETY FEET THREE INCHES; AND (III) HAS PERMANENTLY AFFIXED TO ITS BODY
ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR JAMB, A DATA-PLATE ON WHICH THE BUS
MANUFACTURER INDICATES THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER AND WALL-TO-
WALL TURNING DIAMETER AND ATTESTS TO THE FACT THAT THE WALL-TO-WALL
TURNING DIAMETER IS CALCULATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SOCIETY OF AUTOMO-
TIVE ENGINEERS J-695 STANDARD AS SUCH STANDARD EXISTED ON JANUARY FIRST,
TWO THOUSAND SEVENTEEN, REGARDING TURNING CAPABILITY OR THE NEW YORK
STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DETERMINES THAT SUCH BUS IS IN
COMPLIANCE WITH THE WALL-TO-WALL TURNING DIAMETER REQUIREMENT IN THE
DEPARTMENT'S SAFETY INSPECTION OF SUCH BUS. A house coach shall not
exceed forty-five feet in length, provided however, that if a house
coach exceeds forty feet in length, its wall-to-wall turning diameter
shall not exceed ninety feet three inches and moreover, such house coach
shall have permanently affixed to its body on the front passenger side
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00231-01-9
A. 2289 2
door jamb, a data-plate on which the house coach manufacturer indicates
the vehicle identification number and wall-to-wall turning diameter and
attests to the fact that the wall-to-wall turning diameter is calculated
in accordance with the Society of Automotive Engineers J-695 Standard as
such standard existed on June first, two thousand three, regarding turn-
ing capability. In the event such a house coach exceeds either twenty-
six thousand pounds gross vehicle weight rating, is greater than forty
feet in length or exceeds both, the operator of such house coach must
have a driver's license with a personal use vehicle endorsement as set
forth in subparagraph (vii) of paragraph (b) of subdivision two of
section five hundred one of [the] this chapter. This provision shall not
apply to any city not wholly included within one county except such
house coaches and fifth wheel trailers used for non-commercial purposes
may be operated on that portion of interstate ninety-five which connects
interstate two hundred eighty-seven with interstate two hundred ninety-
five, that portion of interstate two hundred ninety-five which connects
interstate ninety-five with interstate four hundred ninety-five and that
portion of interstate four hundred ninety-five between interstate nine-
ty-five and the Nassau-Queens county line.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.